MURAMVYA, March 25 (ABP) – The Bukiriro and Tuvuzanye health insurance organizations continue to play a decisive role in improving the health and economic well-being of residents of Muramvya commune, in Gitega province (central-western Burundi). Since 2015, they have enabled their members and their families to access healthcare without going into debt with health facilities and partner pharmacies.
This information was shared during awareness meetings held over three days in the zones of Shombo, Bugarama, and Muramvya, as well as during an extraordinary session that brought together the communal administrator of Muramvya, Mr. Eric Nkurunziza, administrative officials, traders, tax and levy collectors, and representatives of the Bukiriro mutual and the partner NGO MEMISA-Belgium, represented by Ms. Béatrice Ndayisenga. According to the latter, the main objective of these meetings was to encourage massive enrollment in health insurance organizations, while explaining how they operate and the procedures for joining at the community level.
The head of the service in charge of human rights and future planning in the commune, Ms. Cassilde Ndayisenga, highlighted many advantages of joining. She specified that the annual contribution amounts to 27,500 BIF for a single person, 46,000 BIF for a household of two to six people, and 10,000 BIF for each additional member; amounts considered affordable compared to healthcare expenses incurred without coverage. She added that these mutuals constitute an effective mechanism for protecting household resources in case of illness, while significantly reducing the cost of care.
Ms. Ndayisenga also called on those with sufficient means to avoid the misuse of cards intended for the most disadvantaged, a practice likely to undermine the State’s efforts in favor of vulnerable populations.
For his part, the communal administrator of Muramvya, Mr. Eric Nkurunziza, praised the contribution of these mutuals, supported by the international organization MEMISA-Belgium, which initiated their establishment in the communes of the former Muramvya province. He immediately proceeded to enroll in the Bukiriro communal mutual, inviting other officials to follow his example.
The communal secretary of the CND-FDD party, Mr. Euphrèm Gahungu, also supported this initiative, urging the population to join health insurance organizations in large numbers in order to preserve their health and strengthen household development.
At the end of these meetings, the leaders of the concerned zones committed to joining as well and to intensifying awareness efforts for greater participation in health insurance organizations, particularly Bukiriro, considered an essential lever for social protection and the economic development of the people of Muramvya commune.