EDITORIAL: Retirees deserve a better deal

Pensioners who retired before 2003 have again called attention on their plight. This time it is not about the insufficient retirement benefits that are no longer in line with today’s cost of living, it is life threatening to say the least. As most of them approach their twilight years, where they are beset by a myriad of illnesses due to their advanced age, they have no medical cover. They argue that the community health insurance, Mutuelle de Sante, does not cover many diseases that come along with old age such as High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and heart problems. Those can only be covered by its sister medical scheme enjoyed by employees, RAMA. Some also point out that during their active years they used to contribute to what was known as ‘soins médicaux’– a French term meaning “medical care”, as part of their pension scheme. Today they are struggling to get affordable medical care and are pleading to be included to enjoy the medical benefits like others who came after them. This should in normal circumstances be a no-brainer for Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). The old men and women gave their all to serve their country in various capacities. Isn’t it time they enjoyed flawless retirement benefits; medical care inclusive? If contributors to RAMA managed to solve the issue of paid maternity leave for mothers, why can’t the same approach be taken to solve the issue for the retirees? They are definitely fewer in numbers than new mothers, so the least we can do is give them a golden handshake and accompany them as they prepare to take leave of a country they help to build.

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EDITORIAL: Retirees deserve a better deal