Health scheme gives Batwa new lease of life
Sep 26, 2011
EVAS Turinawe (not real name) of Mukono village near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is probably the happiest person after becoming a beneficiary of the equality health scheme.
By Patson Baraire
EVAS Turinawe (not real name) of Mukono village near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is probably the happiest person after becoming a beneficiary of the equality health scheme.
She had an uncontrollable urine leakage after undergoing a difficult labour at home five years ago. Even when Turinawe was told the fistula could be corrected at a hospital, she could not afford to pay for the treatment.
However, luck shone on her when she joined the e-quality scheme. The scheme was launched by Bwindi Community Hospital in Kanungu district in conjunction with International Medical Foundation in February last year to promote quality health, as well as address health inequalities in the area.
The hole, which had traumatised Turinawe for years, was repaired at less than $1 (about sh3,000) after e-quality programme paid for the rest.
Turinawe’s treatment has given hope to other women in her community, who had suffered the same fate and have since registered with e-quality programme at a small fee to get treatment.
The hospital was initially started in 2000 by the Diocese of Kinkizi to cater for the minority Batwa tribe, who were evicted from Bwindi forest after the area was gazetted as a cultural tourism heritage site in 1992.
According to James Twebaze, the in charge of the e-quality programme at the hospital, the communities pooled resources and contributed to the scheme.
Each person in a group pays $3 (about sh9,000) per year and can access all the services at the hospital. The scheme now boasts of up to 17,000 members drawn from areas around Bwindi since it started in February last year.
EVAS Turinawe (not real name) of Mukono village near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is probably the happiest person after becoming a beneficiary of the equality health scheme.
She had an uncontrollable urine leakage after undergoing a difficult labour at home five years ago. Even when Turinawe was told the fistula could be corrected at a hospital, she could not afford to pay for the treatment.
However, luck shone on her when she joined the e-quality scheme. The scheme was launched by Bwindi Community Hospital in Kanungu district in conjunction with International Medical Foundation in February last year to promote quality health, as well as address health inequalities in the area.
The hole, which had traumatised Turinawe for years, was repaired at less than $1 (about sh3,000) after e-quality programme paid for the rest.
Turinawe’s treatment has given hope to other women in her community, who had suffered the same fate and have since registered with e-quality programme at a small fee to get treatment.
The hospital was initially started in 2000 by the Diocese of Kinkizi to cater for the minority Batwa tribe, who were evicted from Bwindi forest after the area was gazetted as a cultural tourism heritage site in 1992.
According to James Twebaze, the in charge of the e-quality programme at the hospital, the communities pooled resources and contributed to the scheme.
Each person in a group pays $3 (about sh9,000) per year and can access all the services at the hospital. The scheme now boasts of up to 17,000 members drawn from areas around Bwindi since it started in February last year.