Over 1,400 people enroll for health insurance

Mar 21, 2019

According to Uganda Voucher Plus Activity Chief of party, Christine Namayanja, the project has trained health care providers in 55 health facilities in 28 districts of Eastern Uganda and Acholi sub- region about community mobilisation for health insurance.

Over 1,400 people have enrolled for community health insurance in Alebtong district. According to Geoffrey Ocheng, the Executive Director for Alleluyah Joint Maternity Clinic, they have been registering people from various villages since 2018.

 

Speaking during the community health insurance meeting recently, Ocheng said, "The registration fee is sh10,000 and each individual in the household pays shs10,000 per year for treatment fee. Because of the overwhelming number of patients, the premium is collected before patients come for treatment."

 

 Alebtong residents during the community health insurance meeting at Alleluyah Joint maternity Clinic  (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

 

Since most vulnerable people with chronical illness sell off their properties to raise hospital charges, Ocheng explained that, with the help of the local council chairman, they have moved to all villages informing people about the benefits of saving for health.

 

According to Uganda Voucher Plus Activity Chief of party, Christine Namayanja, the project has trained health care providers in 55 health facilities in 28 districts of Eastern Uganda and Acholi sub- region about community mobilisation for health insurance.

 

The districts in Acholi sub-region include, Gulu, Omoro, Agago, Kitgum, Nwoya, Lamwo and Amuru. Other districts in the Lango Sub-region include, Lira, Oyam , Otuke, Alebtong, Dokolo, Kole and Apac.

 

The private health facilities trained in Teso sub-region include, Soroti, Bukedea, Amuria, Kumi, Serere, Ngora, Kaberamaido and Katakwi. Other private health facilities trained from Bukeddi Sub- region include, Mbale, Kapchorwa, Sironko, Namisindwa, Pallisa, Butebo, Manafwa and Butaleja.

 

Namayanja said, in order to ensure that vulnerable people are insured when they fall sick; the project has linked health facilities to various partners like Health Partners Uganda to receive training about community health insurance.

 

"If a person enrolls, subscription will be made such that he or she is able to access certain health services at an insuring health Centre without pay." Namayanja added.

 

Because of financial constraints, Mercy Apio, a mother of four children confessed that when her father-in-law fell sick, her husband Akello sold off their big piece of land  at a low cost in order to save his life.

 

Apio, however said, if they had enrolled for community health insurance, they would have saved their property.

 

"I don't regret paying the insurance fee for treatment. When I fell sick, though I didn't have money, I received the treatment I wanted," disclosed Peter Akello, a resident of Oderai village in Amen parish in Soroti district.

Uganda Voucher Plus Activity Chief of Party, Christine Namayanja interacts with some of the mothers after the community health insurance meeting at Alleluyah Joint maternity Clinic in Alebtong district (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)

 

 

Moses Aisia, the Executive Director, Holy Innocent Health Centre, at Kamutur village, Kolir Sub County in Bukedea district said,  "We are embracing save for health because our major objective is to ensure that people are productive, healthy and out of poverty."

 

Under their scheme, Aisia mentioned that they want to get a compliment of micro credit so that registered members are able to access loans that they will use to improve their livelihoods and develop business skills.

 

Since Kamutur village has so many vulnerable children and women, school drop outs. Aisia believes the scheme will help to improve and transform so many livelihoods in various households.

 

Uganda Voucher Plus Activity is implemented by Abt Associates with support from United States Agency for International Development, (USAID). The project is working with Save for health Uganda and Health Partners Uganda to build capacity of private health facilities to implement community health insurance.