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As HIV/AIDS picks up pace in Burundi, the central African country has announced plans to emulate Uganda's efforts in tackling the pandemic.
The World Food Programme (WFP) recently expressed concern over the high rates of HIV/AIDS in Burundi, which are estimated to have reached 20 percent in urban areas and 7.5 percent in rural areas.
Frederic Ngenzebuhoro, Burundi's deputy speaker in parliament, said Uganda's success story in combating HIV/AIDS was the result of a concerted effort by the political leadership under its President Yoweri Museveni.
Uganda has become one of the very few countries to reduce its HIV/AIDS epidemic, where rates have dropped from over 14 percent to below 8 percent over the last decade.
During an interview with Ugandan newspaper, New Vision, Ngenzebuhoro said: "Silence on the part of political leaders in our country has led to many deaths. We are proud of what you [Uganda] have done. We will do our best to emulate you to save Burundians."
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions