U.S., Burundi Sign Five-Year Health Cooperation MOU to Tackle HIV/AIDS and Malaria

The United States and the Government of Burundi have signed a five-year bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reinforcing efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and malaria while strengthening global health security.

The agreement, signed on February 6, aligns with the America First Global Health Strategy and is designed to protect Americans by supporting Burundi’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats before they spread internationally.

Under the MOU, the U.S. Department of State, working with Congress, plans to invest more than $129 million over the next five years to support Burundi’s health priorities. The funding will focus on combating HIV/AIDS and malaria, enhancing disease surveillance, and improving outbreak response systems.

In a move toward greater self-reliance, the Government of Burundi has committed to increasing its domestic health expenditure by $26 million during the five-year period, strengthening its national health system and reducing long-term dependence on external support.

The agreement builds on decades of U.S. support in Burundi’s fight against HIV/AIDS and malaria. It aims to sustain treatment for 97 percent of people living with HIV in the country and to cut malaria-related deaths among children under five by half.

Beyond disease-specific interventions, the MOU introduces an integrated service delivery model designed to improve efficiency, quality of care, and patient retention. This approach is expected to save lives while improving Burundi’s ability to manage infectious disease outbreaks independently.

The Burundi agreement is part of a broader U.S. global health initiative. To date, America First Global Health Strategy MOUs represent over $18.3 billion in new health funding, including $11.18 billion in U.S. assistance and $7.12 billion in co-investment by partner countries. As of February 6, the U.S. State Department has signed 16 bilateral global health MOUs worldwide, reinforcing international efforts against HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases.