Primary care for
rural communities in Burundi.
Twese Clinic operates a community-based primary care facility in Kabezi, Burundi — integrating clinical care, community health workers, and structured referral pathways into a coherent, data-informed model.
Free, high-quality primary care in Kabezi
Twese Clinic has operated in Kabezi, Burundi since 2023, providing free primary care to a population with historically limited access to formal health services. Our model integrates clinical care with a community health worker program, structured data collection, and referral pathways to district hospitals.
Clinical protocols are standardized and outcomes are tracked systematically — enabling continuous improvement and building the evidence base for sustainable, community-grounded care.
Community health session — Kabezi, Burundi, 2024
Three-tier architecture: preventive, primary, referral
Preventive Care
Community health worker outreach, health education, vaccination programs, and early screening for chronic disease and maternal risk factors.
Primary Care
Diagnosis and treatment of acute illness, chronic disease management (hypertension, diabetes, TB, malaria), maternal and child health services.
Referral Pathways
Structured referral protocols to district and national hospitals for cases requiring specialist care, surgical intervention, or advanced diagnostics.
14 community health workers as the first line of care
Twese Clinic trains and deploys 14 community health workers (CHWs) who serve as the primary interface between the clinic and the surrounding community. CHWs conduct home visits, facilitate health education, identify at-risk patients, and support treatment adherence.
This model reduces barriers to care access, improves early detection of illness, and creates a trusted health presence in communities where formal facilities are distant or inaccessible.
Building structured pathways into the formal health system
Twese Clinic is developing formal referral agreements with district hospitals to ensure patients requiring specialist care or advanced diagnostics receive timely, appropriate referrals. This work is currently in progress.
Our data systems are being designed for compatibility with national health information infrastructure, enabling patient tracking across the continuum of care.
District Hospital Referrals
In progressDeveloping referral protocols for cases requiring inpatient care, surgery, or specialist consultation.
Health Data Systems
In progressPatient records designed for compatibility with DHIS2 and national health information systems.
Telemedicine Pilot
PlannedPlanned pilot to connect clinic staff with specialist physicians for remote consultation on complex cases.
Deepening impact in Kabezi, building a foundation for growth
Our immediate focus is strengthening operations at our Kabezi site — improving data systems, expanding the CHW program, and building the referral infrastructure that will underpin any future growth. We are not projecting rapid expansion. We are building something that works.
Explore Partnership OpportunitiesTwese Clinic established in Kabezi, Burundi. First patients served.
Community health worker program launched with 14 trained CHWs. Emergency mobilization to serve 1,500+ displaced persons during regional conflict.
Operational documentation and clinical protocol codification. Hospital referral pathway development underway.
Strengthening data systems, expanding CHW program, and building the evidence base for sustainable community health delivery.