Beginnings and evolution
When we arrived at Nyamugari, a district of Gitega, the people of the district, on hearing that I was a nurse, asked us to open a Care Centre. But because of the proximity of Gitega Hospital and other Care centres, this was not foreseen.
In fact, it was the violent events which prompted us to set up medical facilities in that area.

The first treatments were provided in our own house in 1993. Later on, AIDS took root in that working class district. In order to receive patients, we converted a local building, which very quickly became too small. Then we bought a plot of land and proceeded to renovate the buildings. Thus, in February 2005, the “Nyamugari EPC Care Centre” was opened – a “project of our own”. (EPC stands for ”Equipe de Prise en Charge des Séropositifs” - Team Responsible for HIV positive Patients).

The Care centre is situated in a working class area of the town, with a Muslim majority. We treat a lot of Muslims, Protestants from different Churches, some Catholics, staff from the parish and beneficiaries of the parish CARITAS, war and AIDS orphans, as well as other children from the FVS (Family to Defeat AIDS).

The opening of the new centre coincided with a strike at Gitega Hospital. Around that time, some people began to arrive; they previously would have been afraid to come for treatment, fearing that it was a centre designed for “people living with HIV/AIDS”. We treat patients from Gitega and the surrounding hills. We also treat the poorest people, who have scarcely any money with them, on the basis that they could pay later.

The increase in the numbers of patients naturally led to an increase in staff and changes in organisation. We instituted a new system of recording and maintaining patient registers. We also established a small pharmacy and made bags for carrying the medicines.

Involved in this service
We are two MSOLA involved in this service – Jeanne d’Arc Ouattara, aged 40, and Herenia Ezquerra. We both share the management of the centre, the co-ordination of activities.
There are several other people in our team, nurses, nursing assistants, women and men in charge of pharmacy, cooking, materials and purchasing what is needed.

To these have been added, for the last years, some young African Missionary of Africa aspirants, who come to carry out part of their apostolate at the centre. Two of them come for two afternoons a week and the others for two or three hours a day. They help in all kinds of ways.

Activities
The centre’s activities are divided between treatment and nutritional rehabilitation.
The treatments concern various categories of people – patients in general and people living with HIV/AIDS, both at the centre and, for serious cases, at home. To these are added exceptional hospital admissions, especially in day-time, follow-up of patients admitted to Gitega Hospital, psycho-social responsibility for HIV/AIDS, and pre-and post HIV test interviews. We also work to prevent “opportunistic” infections (illnesses that can be incurred or developed by the individual because of the weakness of his/her immune system). On two afternoons a month, we meet with all the HIV/AIDS patients for the distribution of medicine, sometimes providing material help, giving talks or showing videos, which can help them to live positively and avoid infecting other people - not forgetting the follow-up of patients receiving anti-retroviral treatment and anonymous HIV/AIDS patients and carrying out home visits.

As for nutritional rehabilitation, it is for malnourished children, of whom there are many around us. They are mainly very young children – some of them orphans, some not – whose weight is well below normal. We see them three times a week for studying their situation as regards nutrition and they are given nutritional support.

Various projects connected with the centre
Mention should also be made of various projects connected with the centre.
For the fourth year in succession, Caritas Ireland, “TROCAIRE”, is funding a school’s project for children and young people. The beneficiaries of this project are the children of HIV-positive parents, children with HIV, orphans and other “vulnerable” children. This year, we expect to provide schooling for 210 children and young people at primary and secondary levels and to support 70 of the poorest families through "Income generating Activities" (AGR).

Cases of malaria are very numerous in Burundi, and Gitega is not spared. Cases of resistance to anti-malarial drugs are common. In order to combat this curse, and recognising that “prevention is better than cure”, we prepared a project for purchasing mosquito nets. A German women’s organisation gave us some help, which made it possible to distribute 800 nets.

Financial sources

Finance for the Centre comes from several sources and projects. The patients who are able to do so also make their contribution.

Visibility
This project gives young people who wish to spend some time with us, MSOLA, but who live far away, the chance to come and see us, so as to get to know us better. In this way, they can discern their vocation and, at the same time, earn a little money to help their families. It also enables us get to know them better and assist them in their search. This “project of our own”, therefore, creates a situation which gives the possibility of awakening vocations.

Felisa Garcia Galàn