Stigma and Struggle: Burundi's Battle with Mpox

Eric Mbonigaba, a Burundian motorcycle taxi driver and mpox survivor, faces eviction and stigma in Bujumbura, exacerbating the public health crisis. Despite nearly 600 recorded cases, many seek private treatment due to stigma. UNICEF highlights the need for resources and overcoming stigma to contain the outbreak.

In Burundi, Eric Mbonigaba, a motorcycle taxi driver, has found himself at the intersection of health and societal stigma following his recovery from mpox. Although he spent four weeks in a hospital battling the disease, he now contends with eviction threats and discrimination.

Among the first diagnosed in Burundi's financial hub of Bujumbura, Mbonigaba's ordeal epitomizes the complex challenges confronting Africa's second-worst affected nation by mpox. After his hospital discharge, he faces the prospect of losing his home and clientele, with facial scars dissuading customers.

UNICEF's Regional Health Adviser, Paul Ngwakum, emphasizes the urgency of addressing stigma to curb the outbreak. With nearly 600 cases and government silence on societal impacts, unofficial treatments proliferate, potentially undermining public health efforts.

(With inputs from agencies.)