This month our communications intern, Jesper Kramer spoke with Dr. Nawaraj Upadhaya from his office in Burundi. Nawaraj is the senior technical advisor for public health and mental health. This year, he also successfully defended his PhD. Jesper and Nawaraj speak about his role in HealthNet TPO, how has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and what he is looing forward to in 2021.
Since 2000, HealthNet TPO has been supporting the mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of people living in Burundi. By training health professionals to detect and treat mental health issues, we aim to make mental healthcare accessible for all.
After more than 20 years of dedicated service and commitment to HealthNet TPO and to the people of Burundi, Joseph Nduwumwami, Burundi Country Director, is retiring from his role. We caught up with him, to learn more about his experiences and the work of the organisation over two decades in Burundi.
This story from Burundi is the first in a series of four campaigns we will share throughout the year, showing that mental health support is not one-size-fits-all. It is shaped by context, by community, and by the real challenges people face every day. Stay tuned as we share more throughout the year!