BUJUMBURA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ange-Bernice Ingabire, the newly crowned Miss Burundi, has vowed to use her one-year tenure to promote the well-being of children living with disabilities.
The 21-year-old medical student at the University of Burundi beat about 20 other girls in the final to win the title of Miss Burundi for 2016-2017 at a colorful event held on Sunday at Safari Gate Hotel near the shores of Lake Tanganyika.
Speaking to Xinhua, she said during the one-year tenure, she will promote the well-being of Burundian children living with disabilities.
"As I will be Miss Burundi for one year, my plan is to visit at least two provinces of Burundi every month," she told Xinhua.
"Within nine months, I will have toured all the 18 provinces of Burundi. During those field visits, I will sensitize women to regularly go to hospital during their pregnancies to check whether their fetuses are fine," Ingabire said.
According to her, those medical checkups will allow mothers to correct the disability of their fetuses on time.
"During my field trips, I will tell children with disabilities that they are children like others and that they can get a treatment. I will also tell them to avoid being objects used in begging. I will also tell them that they are useful and that they are able to do some jobs," said Ingabire.
She added that she will request "free medical care" for children living with disabilities.
Ingabire said, "I will collaborate with international organizations that promote children's rights like the UN Population Fund and the World Health Organization in identifying children with disabilities and in sensitizing women to go to hospital to check whether their fetuses are fine."
