Rumonge: the lack of doctors paralyzes the health sector
The provincial doctor in Rumonge (southwest Burundi) sounded the alarm on Monday, in a sectoral meeting that was organized by the governor Leonard Niyonsaba. The unions speak of low salaries and lack of sufficient equipment as the main causes of the doctors depature to other countries.
INFO SOS Médias urundi
According to the provincial doctor, Doctor Jean Ferdinand Girukwishaka, hospitals are having difficulty treating patients. Doctors contacted confirm the facts. They affirm that several departures have been observed in recent years.
“Some go to work for the private sector while others continue to migrate to European countries, particularly France. They are recruited to work in French hospitals, but there are also a large number of other doctors who go to countries of the sub-region where salaries are attractive,” say doctors who spoke to SOS Médias Burundi.
The governor of Rumonge, Léonard Niyonsaba, called on municipal administrators to “explore ways of improving the living conditions of doctors”, with a view to “keeping those who have not yet left”.
In 2023, unions were already concerned about doctors leaving for abroad. https://www.sosmediasburundi.org/2023/09/19/burundi-il-faut-une-politique-salariale-attrayante-pour-freiner-le-depart-des-medecins-a-letranger-syndicats/
And recently, the University of Burundi revealed its concern to the ministry in charge of education.
The chairman of the teachers’ union of this university, Désiré Nisubire, confirmed that many teachers are leaving the institution to seek better opportunities abroad. In his eyes, this trend is a direct consequence of the difficult living conditions faced by teachers in Burundi.
According to Mr. Nisubire, the financial situation of teachers is precarious, with monthly salaries that do not exceed $200. “The standard of living of teachers is pitiful. It is not surprising that they are looking elsewhere for better conditions. If I was offered $4,000 a month, I wouldn’t stay here,” he says.
The unionist also points out that teachers with a doctorate can earn between $2,000 and $3,000, or even more, per month in other countries in the sub-region. This salary disparity inevitably pushes local talent into exile.
A weakened university
Mr. Nisubire also deplores the lack of replacements for professors who retire or leave the country. According to him, this situation considerably weakens strategic faculties, particularly the faculty of medicine, which has already been heavily affected by these departures.
He recalls that university professors play a crucial role in designing strategic plans for the country’s development. “When we talk about the 40-60 vision, how can we achieve these objectives without a qualified workforce? These teachers who are leaving represent an intellectual wealth that Burundi vitally needs,” he says.
A call to action
Faced with this haemorrhage of talent, the union chairperson urges the Burundian government to act quickly to improve teachers’ working conditions. He advocates for an approach that prioritizes fairness and the protection of this teaching body.
“If the authorities do not take the necessary measures to reassure and support teachers, they risk losing this intellectual treasure to other countries,” he concludes gravely.
[13/01 22:03] Gitungwa: A sign indicating the Rumonge hospital in southwestern Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)
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A sign post indicating the Rumonge hospital in the southwest of Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)
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