Burundi’s Health Leaders Step Up in the Fight to End Malaria

On 12th September 2025, Strathmore Business School (SBS) played host to the much-awaited graduation of the Burundi cohort, a group of 35 senior leaders from the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) Burundi. This milestone marked the end of a rigorous journey that began in April 2025, when the participants embarked on the Leadership, Management and Governance (LMG) programme under the ELEMMINATE Project, implemented by the Institute of Healthcare Management under the leadership of Dr. Ben Ngoye and Prof. Gilbert Kokwaro.

The graduation ceremony was further enriched by the presence of the Burundi Ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Ntahonkuriye Emmernece, who delivered a powerful message to the graduates. She extended a hearty congratulations to the participants and urged them to be ethical leaders who will not only transform Burundi but also contribute to the progress of Africa as a whole. She challenged them to ensure that the lessons and skills acquired during the programme are cascaded down to their juniors, so that the entire Ministry of Health in Burundi benefits—directly or indirectly—from the knowledge and leadership capacity built through this initiative.

The training journey was diverse and immersive. During the five months, the participants engaged with the academic rigor of the LMG curriculum and practical problem-solving through Institutional Improvement Projects. These projects, carefully designed around the realities of Burundi’s health sector, demonstrated how leadership, management, and governance skills can be applied directly to the fight against malaria. The themes ranged widely, reflecting both creativity and urgency—some explored One Health approaches linking human, animal, and environmental health; others examined the role of technology and digital tools in strengthening malaria surveillance; several focused on the intersection of climate change and vector control, while others emphasized advocacy strategies or the use of malaria modelling to inform policy and decision-making.

To walk this journey with them, each participant was matched with an experienced coach, ensuring that their learning was not only theoretical but also personalized and applied. The coaching element served as a critical extension of the LMG philosophy: leadership is not taught in isolation but cultivated through mentorship, reflection, and guided practice. Coaches provided feedback on project development, supported participants in refining their ideas, and challenged them to think beyond immediate solutions toward sustainable, systems-level impact. In doing so, the coaching relationship mirrored the very essence of the LMG framework—building leaders who are not just managers of tasks, but strategic thinkers and change agents capable of mobilizing teams, influencing policy, and sustaining collective action.

The graduation symbolized the completion of the LMG training programme and was a clear statement of Burundi’s commitment to strengthening leadership for health. Malaria remains one of the country’s greatest health challenges, with year-round transmission that puts enormous pressure on the health system. The fight against the disease requires not only medical interventions but also strong leadership, sound governance, and effective management. The LMG programme is designed precisely for this purpose—building the capacity of leaders to make evidence-based decisions, manage scarce resources, strengthen accountability, and inspire innovation across the health system.

As they return to their roles, these senior leaders now join our active ELEMMINATE alumni community, where they will have the opportunity to mentor those who come after them. This graduation is not the end but the beginning of a new chapter in leadership, collaboration, and impact. We look forward to the great contributions these leaders will make in driving the vision of malaria elimination in Burundi and beyond.

Article by: Judith A. Amolo