Strong healthcare key to development

The Ministry of Health has disclosed that 80 percent of subscribers for the community-based health insurance scheme – Mutuelle de Sante – have paid their contributions for the year 2012, a month ahead of the deadline. According to the Ministry, the feat has been achieved because the Rwandan people now understand the value of health insurance. With over 90 percent of the population covered under the health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Sante is among the most successful programmes within the health sector, that have drastically improved the lives of the Rwandan people. The healthcare system has proved that, even with minimal contributions, the difference made in the wellbeing of the citizens is enormous. Indeed, there are many more including the mobile phone initiative where community health workers are provided with cell phones that enable them to offer better quality healthcare, to Rwandans, especially in the rural areas. With the phones, the community health workers communicate with medical experts who, in turn, follow up on patients in a timely manner. As a result, Rwandans now live healthy lives and within the last couple of years, the national life expectancy has risen from 48 to 52 years of age. There is no doubt that a healthy population is a wealthy one. Over the last 17 years, Rwanda has had to reconstruct from scratch and its population is key to achieving the development goals. Access to healthcare is a fundamental right which the government is evidently upholding.

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Strong healthcare key to development