Burundi

Key Results in 2022-2023

More than 50 000 adolescents and young people accessed HIV prevention and testing information and/or services through a peer-led initiative.
Community-led monitoring was established in multiple provinces and networks of people living with HIV were empowered to reinforce synergy with communities and healthcare providers.
Integrated capacity building and equipment for income-generating activities and access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health information and services benefited 180 sex workers in three provinces.
More than US$ 36 million was mobilized from the Global Fund to scale up the national HIV response in 2024-2026.

Joint Programme Results

As a result of the Joint Programme's support and advocacy in 2022-2023, Burundi boosted the quality and coverage of HIV prevention, testing and treatment services among vulnerable and key populations. For instance, the Government revised the national HIV prevention and testing guidelines, introducing long-acting injectable cabotegravir and dapivirine vaginal ring for the prevention of new HIV infections among women, in line with the World Health Organization guidelines (WHO). In seven provincial districts, 150 adolescents and young people improved their capacity for providing comprehensive sexuality education, life skills and psychosocial support with a focus on HIV prevention. As a result, they further led a community-based peer education initiative that reached over 50 000 boys and girls with information on HIV prevention and testing, of whom nearly 7400 availed of voluntary HIV testing and counselling (UNICEF). Additionally, in Ngozi and Gitega provinces, 450 young people living with HIV explored their roles in preventing new HIV infections through participating in the 4th and 5th National Forums of Young People Living with HIV. The Forums promoted positive living and economic empowerment among adolescent and young people living with HIV (UNFPA).

By December 2023, more than 845 000 people from the general population and nearly 61 500 gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and sex workers accessed HIV testing services, with support from the Joint Programme and the Global Fund (UNDP, UNFPA).

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

Community-led monitoring was established in 18 provinces to improve service delivery, protect the rights of people living with HIV and enhance accountability in the national HIV response. Besides, capacity building efforts strengthened the coordinating structure of networks of people living with HIV, CCDP+ (Conseil consultatif et décisionnel des reseaux des personnes vivant avec le HIV/sida). As a result, CCDP+ reinforced understanding of and demand for differentiated treatment and viral load services among people living with HIV in six regions, and improved synergies between community leaders and healthcare providers, through a series of awareness-raising sessions with support from the Joint Programme (WHO).

A gender mainstreaming guide was developed to strengthen gender equality integration in HIV services. In addition, 45 healthcare providers and leaders of people living with HIV and young people improved their knowledge of and skills in integrating gender equality components in HIV services, notably services for preventing vertical transmission of HIV, via a four-day workshop organized in partnership with the association of women living with HIV Communauté Burundaise des Femmes Séropositives (UN Women).

In humanitarian settings, access to testing, treatment and viral load monitoring was ensured. A total of 227 people living with HIV enrolled in treatment also received nutritional support, further improving their health outcomes (UNHCR). In the Bugabira and Busoni communes of Kirundo province, hydroponic farming technology was introduced to produce highly nutritious food and enhance the socioeconomic capacity of 525 pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV grouped together in 21 village saving and loan associations (WFP). Socio-economic empowerment support and capacity-building workshops also benefited 180 sex workers from the provinces of Gitega, Ngozi and Rumonge. Combined with sensitization on HIV prevention, access to HIV testing and promotion of modern contraception methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies, participants were further equipped during these workshops with sewing machines that empowered them to create their own businesses (UNFPA).

Strategic support and coordination enabled Burundi to mobilize more than US$ 36.3 million from the Global Fund to further scale up the national HIV response in 2024-2026 (UNAIDS Secretariat).