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- Jul 30, 2008
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National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Director General Michael Mhando
Fund (CHF) to make it mandatory for all people to join and contribute it
in order to easily access health services.
It said the amendments are also aimed at broadening the use of CHF
membership cards at regional level so as to enable more people to access
health services within their localities.
National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Director General Michael Mhando
revealed in a speech which was read on his behalf by Ellentruda Mbogoro,
NHIF Members’ Manager during sensitisation of people to join the CHF at
Sambwewe in Mbozi District, Mbeya Region.
Mbogoro said the government’s decision is intended to assure people with
reliable and better services which they will be accessing from health
centres at their respective areas.
“The government intends to amend the CHF Act so that the Fund becomes
compulsory to every citizen to contribute for their health to enable them
access health services even if they don’t have money,” Mbogoro said.
She said the government was also working to broaden the CHF services to
regional levels to enable get the services at within their areas contrary
to the current situation which allow members to access services at health
centres within their respective councils.
For her part, senior doctor at Sambwewe village Sospeter Kayuni said 44
percent of all households in Mbozi District have joined CHF.
NHIF Manager for Mbeya Region Emmanuel Mwikwabe said that the aim of
sensitising people to join the Fund was meant to ensure that they access
health services even when they lack cash to pay for medical treatment.
“Sometimes people fell sick while they don’t have money, thus this system
will enable you to contribute before getting sick so that you can access
the service once you are in need,” he said.
Mwikwabe however said that people who join CHF access the service cheaply
compared to those who pay cash for the service.
He said that a person who contributes 10,000/- to CHF can access the
service with six members of his family in a year.
Mbozi District Commissioner Ahmed Namohe called upon people to join CHF to
support the government’s efforts of ensuring that its people have good
health.
He said the government was determined to improve health services in the
country and ensure that they reach majority of people at an affordable
coast.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN