As of January 3, Burundi had already recorded 34,772 cases tested positive for Covid-19 and 14 deaths since March 2019 according to the WHO report. Sources within the Ministry of Health and the Fight Against AIDS state that all of these death cases had comorbidities.

Although there have been no studies, Egide Haragirimana, secretary general of BNCDA, indicates that these people living with chronic diseases have paid a very high price since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Thus, Égide Haragirimana, secretary general of the Burundian alliance for the fight against non-communicable chronic diseases, is calling on political decision-makers to mobilize for other diseases as is the case for AIDS.

"The chronic disease program is there and is financed but we want the government to collaborate with other bilateral partners so that there is significant investment to carry out actions as is done within the framework of HIV/AIDS," pleads Égide Haragirimana.

And he added: "the voice of people living with chronic diseases should be heard. But also these people with comorbidities should have access to medicines at affordable prices."

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Cost of Medicines, a Concern for People with Comorbidities

Medicines are available in pharmacies but most sick people cannot afford them due to lack of means. For this reason, M. Egide is appealing to political decision-makers, local and international NGOs to intensify actions supporting the health of this vulnerable population.

Lazare Minyaruko, asthmatic for 32 years, complains about the enormous costs he incurs in buying medicines, not only for himself but also for 3 of his 5 children.

"I have already spent nearly 3 million to buy my inhalers and those of my 3 children. On top of that, I had to leave the rural area because the climate did not allow me to stay there. I came to live in the city. All of this is not easy for a retiree like myself," specifies M. Lazare, father of 5 children.

Regarding the question of Covid-19, Lazare believes it is a very worrying situation. It requires taking more precautions as it can generate particular complications in an asthmatic.

It should be noted that COVID-19 can be particularly severe or even fatal in people with immunodeficiency.

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Joe Senghor