As the world theme on international day of people with disability by 2020 turns around “Lets promote Health Services and Fight Against pandemics for Persons with Disabilities”, in Rwanda, some of them who are in need of prostheses claim that it is difficult to get it due to the lack of insurance scheme.
Some of them who used to get medical issues at HVP Gatagara in Gikondo sector, Kicukiro district say tha the government should easy the cost by issuing the prostheses in the scheme of mituelle de santé which covers the big number of citizens.
Thomas Sebageni is missing the left leg during battle field, speaking to BTN TV, said for medical issues he uses Demobilization insurance card.
“I am here from Bugeshi in Rubavu district, so, if I was using mituelle de santé it could not last for two days here waiting for service, and we would feel comfortable as the rest of Rwandese”. Sebageni noted.
“Sometimes when I am not transferred here HVP Gatagara Gikondo, it is Gatagara in Nyanza district, nowhere else could fix my disability except both centers”. He added.
Telesphore Twagiramungu, a resident from Buhogo cell, Remera sector in Musanze district, said after having leg injury he was treated conveniently at all services and given prostheses while some people with disabilities couldn’t.
His counterpart said he could not afford to buy prostheses. “If mituelle de santé was issued to us we can even go to the nearest health center and get medical issues. It could be even on district lever until we get prostheses. From Rubavu to Gatagara Gikondo in Kicukiro district it took me two days; even transport ticket is still a problem to me, so we are I need of such advocacy fo our health insurance.” Twagiramungu said.
Anastase Irafasha, the nurse at HVP Gatagara Gikondo, explained the high cost of prostheses, like prosthetic limbs, is due to the high cost of shipping on raw materials import and taxes.
“Our prostheses are expensive because they come only from Europe continent,there are no manufactures locally, and even in africa continent. The second, medical services for people with disabilities are delivered only here in specialized HVP Gatagara and in three other hospitals in entire country. Said Irafasha.
The third one it is still impossible to use mutuelle de santé for this category of people, only for RAMA or other insurance above mutuelle, and we know the above 90% of Rwandese use mutuelle scheme, it’s still big challenge for such people and biggest one for people with disability to afford our prostheses which could cost minimum of 400 000 rwf and after three or four year get another one with their living conditions.” He added.
The ministry of Health and Rwanda social security board, RSSB, said they are still evaluating the feasibility of insurance to the people with disability so as to achieve their welfare as the rest of Rwandans.
