In return, Burundi has pledged to increase domestic health spending by $26 million over the same period, signaling a push toward long-term self-reliance. “Building on the United States’ decades of fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria in Burundi, this MOU safeguards Americans by strengthening Burundi’s capacity to detect and contain infectious disease outbreaks before they spread internationally,” the statement reads. According to the State Department, Burundi aims to continue treating 97 percent of people living with HIV while cutting malaria deaths among children under five by half within five years. The Burundi deal is part of a broader global rollout of bilateral health MOUs under the America First framework. Beyond medical impact, the agreement underscores how global health is increasingly tied to diplomacy and national security.

Source: Daily Nation February 10, 2026 07:26 UTC