Kigali, Rwanda – Dr. Clovis Paulin Baramburiye said, “It’s a great honor to be the first plastic and reconstructive surgeon in my country. But it also brings a heavy burden and a lot of pressure on my shoulders.”
Dr. Baramburiye was born and grew up in Burundi. His journey to becoming a plastic surgeon was not easy at all. After getting his medical degree from Tianjin Medical University in China, he went back to Burundi. There, he worked as a teaching assistant lecturer in human anatomy at the University of Burundi.
During this time, he started his surgical training through the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). This is a regional organization that offers affordable surgical education all over Africa.
Dr. Baramburiye said, “I always wanted to do plastic surgery. But there was no such program in Burundi. Training in another country was too costly, so I began training in general surgery instead.”
Then, a significant opportunity came up. He received a scholarship to pursue his dream of specializing in plastic surgery. But it meant giving up years of general surgery training. For Dr. Baramburiye, the choice was obvious. He said, “Since this was my lifelong dream, I didn’t hesitate. I stopped my general surgery training and went to Rwanda for three years of focused plastic surgery training.”
After three intense years of study, he took his exams in Zimbabwe. In December 2023, he officially became a certified plastic surgeon.
Now, Dr. Baramburiye has many roles. He is a lecturer at the University of Burundi, heads the Department of Human Anatomy, and works as a consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the University Hospital.
He repeated that being the first plastic and reconstructive surgeon in his country is an honor, but also a big responsibility with much pressure. “I’m still excited, but I’m already facing problems. Sometimes, I don’t have the right instruments or enough time in the operating theatre. But I’m eager to be here, to show people that things can be done, and to fight for what’s needed to do the job properly,” he explained. Plastic and reconstructive surgery is not just about making people look good. It’s about bringing back function, dignity, and hope.
Dr. Baramburiye deals with many different cases. These include acute burns, contractures that happen after burns, cleft lips and palates, soft tissue infections, and even cosmetic procedures like body contouring and breast reduction.
Still, his work has its difficulties. The shortage of resources and the lack of proper equipment sometimes stop him from giving the best possible care.
“For most reconstructive surgeries, basic instruments can be used. But for cases like cleft palate, you need special retractors and calipers. Sometimes, I struggle because of these missing instruments. But I’m working hard to get what I need so that I can do my work well,” he said.
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