Dr. Désiré Habonimana is a First Aid Expert and Coordinator of the Prevention and Emergency Unit in the Burundi Red Cross. He has been passionate about prevention and emergency response activities since he started as a volunteer with the organization.  

He serves in an important role, crucial to coordination of activities in the event of disasters in Burundi, including natural disasters as well as diseases such as cholera, which is rampant in certain regions of the Imbo valley. He is also a member of the Burundi Red Cross Task Force, continually setting up national response teams. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Awareness-Raising Among Fishermen in the Fight Against Cholera

The project raised awareness among 140 fishermen of the fight against cholera. This project was carried out in Rumonge Province, which is regularly affected by this fatal disease. Four workshops, distribution of anti-cholera leaflets, and peer education supported fishermen’s education on this critical health issue.  

After the project, a survey of 985 people, including 140 fishermen who were the project’s direct beneficiaries, showed that 100% of the direct beneficiaries and 89% of the general population now know the signs, symptoms, transmission modes, and preventive measures for cholera. All respondents committed to setting up latrines and washing kitchen utensils and hands at crucial times. The community has begun installing latrines and washing stations to prevent cross-contamination with drinking water from Lake Tanganyika.

“This project has enabled us to become aware of the challenges in terms of cholera, the problems we face and also the internal potential we have in the fight against this disease.” – Project Participant

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Désiré participated in the IVLP Project Global Public Health Challenges, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center, in partnership with Global Santa Fe, Global Ties Alabama, Global Ties Iowa, Global Ties Kalamazoo, World Affairs Council - Seattle, and World Partnerships, Inc.  

Désiré’s exchange experience led to the development of his project: “We visited the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and saw some important things about infectious and communicable diseases... The knowledge acquired during my stay will be put to good use in my country to tackle the major challenge of cholera, which is one of Burundi's national public health problems... In Santa Fe, New Mexico, we learned how the United States has managed to face... certain challenges such as malaria [which] made me think of this part of the fishing community, which is vulnerable to this scourge. In fact, the major cholera epidemics in Burundi originated in the fishing industry.”

U.S. Communities Visited

Birmingham, AL; Montgomery, AL; Washington, DC; Tampa, FL; Iowa City, IA; Kalamazoo, MI; Santa Fe, NM; Seattle, WA 

Country: Burundi

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