Burundi families sell land for stroke treatment
Stroke patients' relatives face financial ruin and disrupted lives due to costly care.
Stroke victims' families in Burundi are making significant sacrifices, including selling land, to cover medical expenses and caregiving responsibilities. Gisèle Kaneza, a student at the University of Burundi, has had her studies interrupted to care for her mother, who suffered a stroke. She is the eldest sibling and must manage household duties while her younger siblings attend secondary school.
Gérard Nibigira's wife is hospitalized after a second stroke, forcing him to sell their rural land to pay for her treatment and medication. The family has been at the hospital for nearly a month, highlighting the severe financial strain caused by the illness.
Stroke, also known as a cerebral attack, occurs when a brain blood vessel is blocked or ruptures, depriving brain tissue of oxygen. This medical emergency can lead to significant disabilities and destabilizes the economic and social well-being of entire families.
Why it mattersFamilies in Burundi are forced to sell assets and disrupt education to afford stroke treatment and care for affected relatives.