GISAGARA – Local authorities in Nyanza sector, Gisagara district have dismissed reports from Kigembe Health Centre which indicated that not more than 35% of the residents have paid for health insurance (Mutuelle de santé) this year.

John Semacumi, the health centre director, told The New Times that although some residents do not want to register for the scheme by arguing that they are never sick, financial constraints among the population was to blame for the low numbers.

Reacting to the reports, the sector Executive Secretary of Nyanza sector, Bosco Uwimana said their own statistics indicate that 62% of the residents have paid and are thus using this scheme.

Uwimana, attributed the differences to the process of evaluation, saying the health centre was basing their statistics on those who have validated their insurance cards.

"We expect to see others paying for their health insurance as many of them have started harvesting their food production,” he said.

The health centre director said they arrived at 35% from the patient’s attendance register.

"We are still conducting campaigns aimed at sensitizing residents on the matter. We want to show them that sickness can come at any time; it can be an accident, and an accident comes anytime anywhere without prior plan,” he said.

Cecilia Mukamuhirwa, a resident of Nyanza sector said they are financially constrained to pay for medical insurance because their production was affected by drought last season.

An estimated number of 26 327 residents receive health services at Kigembe Health Centre, according to the centre authorities. Malaria and diseases related to poor sanitation are the most frequent.

Ends