Liliane Nkengurutse
PhD Student
Research Project & Biography
| Research Project | Developing Strategies to Mitigate the Impact of Emerging and Reemerging Diseases on Health Systems in Burundi |
| Biography | Dr. Liliane Nkengurutse is a physician and public health specialist currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of Burundi. With more than 13 years of experience in managing public health emergencies, she launched her career as Director of a District Hospital, where she led efforts against recurring cholera outbreaks. She progressed to national leadership, coordinating rapid response teams and chairing key subcommittees of the National Emergency Management Steering Committee, including those focused on infection prevention and control (IPC), case management, and disease surveillance. Since the establishment of Burundi’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) in 2021, she has served in key strategic roles, including Head of Planning and Director of COUSP, responsible for orchestrating responses to cholera, measles, COVID-19, Ebola, Mpox, and Marburg. Dr. Nkengurutse was instrumental in developing several national emergency response tools, such as the IPC strategic plan, national IPC guidelines, event-based surveillance guides, and epidemic contingency frameworks. Her contributions also extend to scientific advisory capacities, where she helped draft national guidance on hemorrhagic fevers, COVID-19, and Mpox. She has undergone specialized training through Africa CDC and WHO in PHEOC management, Incident Command Systems, and emergency leadership, reinforcing her ability to steer health responses in crisis settings. |