Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Burundi, the Auspices Center “Saint Elisabeth” has imposed measures to protect old people hosted by the center. Nun Colette Murimbane, Managing Director of the center, says there are no visits or internships within the center. “We fear that they should be affected as we heard that people aged over 70 are the most targeted group,” she says. For her, the decision doesn’t affect them as they are busy listening to radios and praying. “They are now informed about the novel coronavirus.
Nun Colette Murimbane: “They are informed that they are the most targeted group”.
They are aware that they are the most targeted group,” he says adding that they are so busy that they don’t think about isolation. “They don’t have time to waste,” Nun Colette Murimbane says.
Willy Gatore, Geriatrics Specialist indicates that a special care is needed for old people in this period of COVID-19 outbreak. “Old people are the most affected throughout the world”, he says adding that they are also physiologically, psychologically and financially fragile. “Financial fragility leads to physical and social fragility,” he says.
Gatore calls on the government to take particular measures to take care of those old people. “The health condition can be worsened if nothing is done these days. Everyone may be affected but old people will be more affected,” he says. He, however, says visits should not be suspended. “These visits should continue when those centers are supported. Old people need to have easy access to health care and financial support,” he says. According to a study conducted by the National Social Protection Commission in February 2017, Burundi had more than 449,000 old people i.e. 4.28% of the population.
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