MedShare International

Pictured: President Pierre Nkurunziza makes remarks as A.B. Short, MedShare's Co-founder and CEO, and Nell Diallo, MedShare's Executive Director for Corporate and International Relations, look on

Pierre Nkurunziza, the president of the East African nation of Burundi, visited MedShare's headquarters on February 9, 2008. Nell Diallo, MedShare's Executive Director for Corporate and International Relations, organized President Nkurunziza's weekend-long visit to Atlanta. He toured the distribution center and expressed hopes to partner with MedShare to send several 40-foot containers of medical supplies and equipment to Burundi over the next several years.

President Nkurunziza cited the forthcoming project as an important collaboration as his administration strives to improve the overall healthcare system in Burundi.

"When I was elected in 2005, the death rate for pregnant women and babies was one of the highest in the world," said Nkurunziza. "That's why, in addition to having free elementary school, we are making free healthcare services [available to] children under the age of five and pregnant women. We are building many rural health centers so many people can get the same access and continue to be supported by the healthcare system."

Nell Diallo was pleased with the president's visit, which was the third time a head of state has visited MedShare. "Burundi, with its first democratically elected president and having been chosen as a member of the World Bank Institute, represents a viable partner for Medshare. By accepting my invitation to visit, the president has shown evidence of his broad approach to finding solutions to the serious health problems facing Burundi's population," said Diallo.