Alice Ndayisaba to fly to India for medical treatment
BR Staff
Bujumbura, 2008-03-12 (Burundi Réalités Agence Presse) -
Ms Alice Ndayisaba is now able to get medical treatment abroad. The Post Bank and the University of Burundi have settled the issue that opposed them with regard to the transfer of the students’ contributions to her account. Today, the Post Bank transferred circa 13 million francs to her account. This sum is not however sufficient to pay the costs of her medical treatment as the rate of exchange for the dollar has risen. A local association, Fondation la Faveur, has resolved to bridge the gap in paying the remaining sum in a bid to allow this student to get medical treatment in India.
Last week, the chancellor of the University of Burundi, Mr Gaston Hakiza, was opposed to the proposition of the Post Bank to pay the 14 million francs to Alice Ndayisaba in waiting for the settling of the students’ representation issue. Surprisingly, Mr Hakiza ordered the Post Bank to return the contributions to students. He also ruled that those who wanted to give contributions would make a listing to allow the university to make cuts on their scholarships. The change of the chancellor’s mind came after intense pressure from various groups. The media and independent organisations made a stir over this haggling of the post and the authority of Burundi over a student’s health leading the two sides to change their stances.
Problems at the University of Burundi persist despite the settling of the issue concerning the health of Alice Ndayisaba which stained the chancellor’s sense of parenthood. Today, students started a three-day peaceful strike in a bid to demand mainly the setup of their representation after the education minister suspended the former Association of the Students of Rumuri, ASSER.
