Restoring Health, Hope, Peace: Reflections from a Grassroots Doctor in Burundi
Submitted by byron on Mon, 03/01/2010 - 4:09pm
Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 6:30pm
Presenter:
For Dr. Alexia Nibona, Alexandra Douglas The State Department denied Dr Nibona a visa. Her coworker, Alexandra Douglas tells the story of the Friends Women’s Association (FWA), an organization which was founded by and for Burundian women in Kamenge to empower each other to work towards the recovery of personal and community peace and health. Through a small, community‐based clinic, FWA provides comprehensive health care, psychological counseling, community trauma healing, nutritional support, micro‐credit loans, and women’s empowerment programs. They work under the belief that where there is health, there is hope. And when there is hope, there is the possibility of long‐term peace.
Health is a human right. When this right is truly respected, there is hope for long-term sustainable peace in Burundi. Dr. Nibona believes that health is not just the absence of physical disease but is the whole well being of body, mind and spirit which is the basis of peace. Through the Friends Women’s Association they provide a comprehensive community-based health care to women and their families. She works with those with HIV/AIDS, who have experienced sexual violende and post-genocide trauma.
Dr, NIbona is the medical and executive director of the Friends Woman’s Association. She grew up in Kamenge, Burundi which is one of Burundi’s deadliest war zones and has the country’s highest HIV/AIDS rate in the country.
