Musenyi : prayer rooms prioritized over medical care at the Congolese refugee site

SOS Médias Burundi
Musenyi, July 15, 2025 – At the Musenyi refugee site, located in Burunga province, southeastern Burundi, where more than 18,000 Congolese refugees fleeing the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo live, a worrying practice is spreading : some refugees prefer to take their sick relatives to prayer rooms rather than rushing to the health center. This habit, motivated by spiritual beliefs, delays access to essential medical care and has already caused avoidable loss of life, particularly among children. Influenced by religious beliefs, many refugees often attribute illnesses to evil spirits or witchcraft, leading them to seek spiritual treatment in prayer rooms before considering a medical consultation. This delay in healthcare frequently leads to serious complications and even death, particularly among children suffering from malaria, respiratory illnesses, or other common ailments.
« My friend took her sick child to a prayer room. She was told it was an evil spirit. When she finally decided to go to the health center, it was discovered that her child was suffering from a preventable illness, but it was too late. The child died, » recounts Mufariji, a refugee in Musenyi.
A nurse at the site, who requested anonymity, confirms this alarming trend :
« We often receive patients in critical condition. When asked why they didn’t seek medical help sooner, some say they were in prayer rooms first. Any delay in seeking medical help could lead to the loss of life. »
Faced with this worrying situation, the camp administration, in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), issued an urgent appeal last week. It urges refugees to immediately seek medical help at the first sign of illness. Emphasis is placed on the importance of consulting healthcare professionals, rather than first resorting to spiritual practices or home care.
Since the arrival of the refugees in early 2025, several deaths from common illnesses have been recorded in the camp, mainly among children. For humanitarian actors on site, strengthening health education and raising awareness among refugees about good medical practices is now a top priority.