UNHCR through its health partners provides free primary health-care services to Burundian refugees and the surrounding host communities. There are 11 health facilities: 3 camp hospitals, 2 health centres and 6 satellite clinics offering a comprehensive health package of services, including mental health, immunization, inpatient and outpatient curative care, antenatal care, maternity, emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmoC), medical care for survivors of rape and other SGBV-related trauma, health education and promotion, and preparedness to respond to disease outbreaks.
Despite maintaining a low mortality rate during the influx of Burundian refugees, (under 5 mortality rate was 0.9/1,000 live births/month and crude mortality rate was 0.4/1,000/month) and responding successfully to the cholera outbreak that occurred from May to September 2015 (low case fatality rate of 0.5 per cent with only 30 refugees affected), major gaps still exist in the health sector as highlighted in participatory assessments. The number of health facilities in the camps is insufficient to meet the needs of the increased population and achieve the recommended SPHERE standard of 1 health facility per 10,000 refugees and with the opening of new camps there is a need to construct at least 29 new health facilities. Adequate equipment of these facilities to allow staff working under good medical conditions, as well as qualified healthcare staff, is also required. In addition, the pervasive risk of communicable diseases will require the construction of isolation/quarantine facilities and purchasing of medical supplies to increase capacity to respond to disease outbreaks, including long-lasting mosquito nets. There is an ever-increasing demand for mental health and psychosocial services among Burundian, requiring training opportunities for health staff and establishing clinics to follow up clients.
Given the current state of health care in the camps, there is need to increase the number of medical referral slots to tertiary facilities for cases that cannot be managed in the camp. UNHCR will also procure additional ambulances to assist with transporting emergency and elective patients to hospitals in Mwanza and Dar es Salaam. Ambulances used to refer patients break down frequently and, in the absence of alternative transport, can result in loss of lives. In 2017 there is a need to increase the more cost-effective strategy of supporting visits by medical specialists to the camp, simultaneously serving a larger number of refugees. Nyarugusu camp is located in a malaria endemic area and malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, preventive activities, such as procurement of long-lasting mosquito bed nets and sufficient quantities of antimalarial drugs, is required.
2017