adminin Harare yesterday.
Gamas patron Mr Basilio Sandamu noted with concern that farmers were contributing towards the economy of the country but few of them had medical aid facilities.
“Farmers are the ones producing food for the nation and require medical facilities to ensure wellness. Medical aid facilities have for long been available for people working in urban industries yet farming communities are also important,” he said.
Mr Sandamu said Gamas was working towards boosting membership from the farming community to promote good health in the sector.
He said so far Gamas had 8 000 members with 1 029 of them coming from the farming sector and agricultural colleges.
Mr Sandamu said through Gamas, farmers may decide to pay through stop order facilities when they sell their produce be it tobacco, cotton or maize.
Gamas managing director, Mr Jabulani Dhlakama said the society was going to work with farmers’ unions to encourage more farmers to join medical aid societies.
“Students from agricultural colleges such as Esigodini, Mlezu, Mazowe and Blackfordby among others had benefited from the society.
“We would want to expand to agricultural service and inputs providers to ensure good health thereby boosting agricultural production and the industry’s contribution to the economy,” he said.
Speaking at the meeting, medical practitioner, Dr Billy Rigava said 6 percent of Zimbabweans had medical aid facilities.
Online Reporter