Diagnostics
Diagnostic research in Burundi reveals widespread gaps across disease categories, infrastructure, and access. These challenges compromise timely and accurate detection of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, particularly in underserved areas.
Key diagnostic challenges and case examples:
- Cancer Diagnostics: A 2025 study revealed that over 61% of cancer cases lacked access to immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing due to resource limitations. Most diagnoses rely on Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining alone, limiting precision—especially for breast, cervical, and stomach cancers.
- Congenital Malaria: A cross-sectional study in Kirundo province found zero confirmed cases among 303 newborns. While RDTs showed high specificity, their sensitivity could not be assessed, underscoring the need for broader surveillance and validation of diagnostic tools.
General diagnostic system limitations:
- Limited genomic and molecular testing capacity.
- Inadequate laboratory infrastructure, especially outside Bujumbura.
- Scarce data on diagnostic accuracy for neglected tropical diseases and NCDs.
- Low integration of diagnostic research into One Health and climate-sensitive disease frameworks.
Strengthening diagnostic systems in Burundi requires investment in lab capacity, workforce training, and interdisciplinary research. Reliable diagnostics are crucial not only for effective treatment but also for robust public health surveillance and disease prevention.
Why Diagnostics Matter: Strategic Advantages for Burundi
- Early Detection & Response: Timely diagnosis of outbreaks like mpox, cholera, and measles reduces morbidity and mortality.
- Improved Surveillance: Diagnostics feed into national surveillance systems, enabling integrated One Health approaches across human, animal, and environmental sectors.
- Capacity Building: Training initiatives—such as those by Africa CDC—improve laboratory skills, biosafety, and molecular testing capacity nationwide.
- Policy Alignment: Diagnostic data informs evidence-based policies, helping Burundi comply with International Health Regulations (IHR) and advance toward SDG targets.
- Research Advancement: Diagnostics support epidemiological and genomic research, and bolster antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring.
- Health Equity: Expanding access ensures better healthcare for vulnerable groups, including displaced communities and remote populations.
Diagnostics form the backbone of resilient health systems, enabling Burundi to detect, respond to, and prevent disease threats with speed and precision. By closing diagnostic gaps, the country can build stronger, more inclusive public health infrastructure and research systems.