Kanyosha, 29th June. It’s 11:00. Along with Francis, we are taking a bus, heading to Kigutu to join other fellows in the community engagement activities. It may appear as a joke but this was my first time to go upcountry in a public transportation. I used to go there in private or functional cars. In the bus, I was seated uncomfortably beside a Swahili woman who had a huge bag of breads that she purchased in Bujumbura. She was going to sell it in her shop at Rumonge. The seat was uncomfortable but the smell of bread made the trip smell “tasty”.
After a couple of hours we reached Rumonge. Aimable, an assistant at Village Health Works took us in his Toyota Caldina. He told us it’s just half an hour but accustomed to the common Burundian perception of time, I knew that it was a one hour trip minimum. The car climbed the hill. The road was dusty and difficult but the view of green colored mountains was wonderful. As well as the young children, and wonderful people wearing colored “bitenge” (African cloths material) along the road.
It took us an hour and quarter to reach Village Health Works at Kigutu. That was one of the most wonderful places I have ever been. Greenery, building, people, food, everything was wonderful. But what caught my attention was the design of the place. After eating, Dr Ciriaque, a physician from Village Health Works showed us the clinic and its services. I was really impressed by the quality and professionalism of their clinic. I liked the way it was clean. It’s one of the cleanest clinics I have ever visited.
I was impressed by the large number of community health workers. They have exactly 101 community health workers, who always run in the population around, raising awareness, giving medications to patients who weren’t able to reach the clinic, etc.
Back in Bujumbura, the number 101 remain in my head. 101 of community health workers. If each clinic in Burundi has that number of community health workers, in addition to physicians and nurses, the quality of health care would be enhanced and the life would be better.