Namutumba residents adopt health care insurance scheme

HEALTH | NAMUTUMBA | INSURANCE SCHEME 

NAMUTUMBA - With the high cost of healthcare in the country, residents of Nakawunzi village in Nawaikoja Sub County, Namutumba district have started a community-based health insurance scheme to easily access quality and low-cost health care services.

Through their new Bukonte Community Health Insurance Scheme (BCHIS), all interested members are required to pay an annual premium ranging between sh8000 and sh28000, at Bukonte Health Centre III.

This has helped members to access healthcare services at a comparatively low cost every time they go for treatment at the facility.

According to the Vice-Chairperson of the initiative, Dominic Sabuka, the annual premium charges differ depending on the number of people in a household.

(L-R) Rashida Nakiwala, Abusadi Mugwabi and Charles Kakire all members of the Bukonte Health Insurance Scheme. (All Photos by Jeff Andrew Lule)

One or two individuals in a household pay sh28000 each; three to four people (sh21000) each; five to eight (sh9000); nine to 12 people in a household (sh8000); while a family with 13 people and above pay a sh7000 premium each

In an interview with the New Vision, Sabuka explained that the idea stemmed from benchmarking trip by Action Aid International Uganda (AAIU) with support from the European Union (EU), where they visited Kisiizi Health Centre IV in Kanungu, which has been running a similar scheme since 1996.

This was during a field monitoring visit by the EU representative in Uganda Elizabeth Ongom in Namutumba on Thursday.

“When we returned, we presented the idea to the community, they showed interest and we decided to adopt it,” he noted.

Since its inception on December 7, 2021, the scheme has 836 registered members.  

The scheme works through various groups such boda boda associations, and youth and women groups among others to easily reach the communities.

Steven Balikowa, the LCI chairperson of Nakawunzi village, noted that being a poor community, they needed help to easily access better health care services.

“Previously, people had to walk long distances to get treatment at the government health facilities. They had to put in transport, then join the long queues and at times fail to get treatment. It was terrible!” he noted.

Samuel Mugwabi one of the committee members of Bukonte Health Insurance Scheme speaks during a meeting with guests in Namutumba.

“But with this scheme, community members just pay an annual premium and pay some small money every time they go for treatment. Everyone feels relieved,” he elaborated.

He said currently even those without cash at hand can get treatment and pay later.

Fully paid members pay sh3000 for outpatient and sh23000 in case of admission.

Being an HCIII, the scheme offers general outpatient and inpatient health care services including maternity, routine tests and minor ailments among others.

“In case it’s an operation and other chronic illnesses chronic, they go to bigger health facilities,” Balikowa added.

Abisadi Mugwaabi, 75, an elder on the committee of the scheme, says the scheme saved older persons who fall sick from time to time.

“I have been spending a lot of money in other health facilities to get treatment. But ever since joined this scheme, I just pay small money and get the treatment I want,” she noted.

Charles Kakaire, a member of Twalwiriraira Group said the scheme has helped him to spend less unlike before.

“Just getting an injection and tests would cost about sh20000. Today, I get the same services at sh3000. I even paid for my children,” he noted.

The EU representative, Elizabeth Ongom, cautioned the residents against misusing the scheme.

“Don’t think because you pay sh3000, you should now give birth to more children. Give birth to children you can manage because it comes with more costs as the child grows,” she noted.

The AAIU Programmes Coordinator, Eastern Uganda, Shibah Namulindwa, urged to group to form working relationships with other partners to develop the scheme further.