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Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima
Born
Jeanne Gapiya

12 July 1963
Bujumbura, Burundi
Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima

Jeanne Gapiya-Niyonzima, born on July 12th 1963 in Bujumbura, Burundi, is responsible for the provision of free treatments for AIDS and HIV to the citizens of Burundi.[1] She is the president of the Association Nationale de Seropositifs. (Burundian National Association in Support of People Living with HIV/AIDS–ANSS). [2]

In 1994 she became the first person in Burundi to disclose publicly that she was HIV positive. She established a national movement to provide support and education for those affected by HIV/AIDS.[3] [4]

In 1998, with the support of several international partners, such as the French association Sidaction and the United Nations, ANSS opened the 'Turiho' ('We are alive', in Kirundi language) centre in Bujumbura, which offers HIV/AIDS counselling, testing and treatment. Gapiya, the tireless activist, was rewarded for her commitment: devoted 'Ambassador of Hope' by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 1996, she also received the International Women's Day Trophy 2003 in Rome. [5]

In 2014 the ANSS celebrated the 20th anniversary of its founding. [6]

ANSS and the OPP-ERA project: since 2014, the success of a collaboration has made a difference in the lives of people living with HIV in Burundi. The OPP-ERA project, which is co-financed and implemented by a consortium of French partners: Solthis (Solidarité Thérapeutique et Initiatives pour la Santé) handles coordination and implementation in Guinea, ANRS (France recherche Nord & sud Sida-HIV Hépatites) handles scientific direction and promoting results, Expertise France for implementation in Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon, and Sidaction for implementation in Burundi. [7]


At the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa held in Kigali, Uganda, 2-7 December 2019, Dr. Gapiya Niyonzima said "The history of the fight against HIV shows that political will is crucial. It is a shared responsibility because no one can achieve it alone. We are not looking for competition but complementarity. To fight against HIV and AIDS we need to come together." [8]

The UNFPA says it "is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled." [9]

  1. ^ "IWACU English News | The voices of Burundi – Jeanne Gapiya". www.iwacu-burundi.org. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  2. ^ Mazzotta, Meredith (2011-05-02). "HIV/AIDS in Burundi: An advocate blazes the trail for access to care and treatment". Science Speaks: Global ID News. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  3. ^ "Person of the Week: Jeanne Gapiya". Devex. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  4. ^ "Jeanne Gapiya – Nothing Without Us". Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  5. ^ "Une femme de tous les combats contre le sida". The New Humanitarian (in French). 2000-12-28. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  6. ^ "ANSS: 20 years responding to the HIV epidemic in Burundi". www.unaids.org. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  7. ^ "Unitaid extends OPP-ERA viral-load initiative". Unitaid. Retrieved 2019-12-09.
  8. ^ "With genuine partnership and effective collaboration, we can end the HIV epidemic together". UNFPA ESARO. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
  9. ^ "With genuine partnership and effective collaboration, we can end the HIV epidemic together". UNFPA ESARO. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2019-12-15.