Govt hails agric students medical aid

Nyamangara said Gamas, through its student farmer Medical Aid Package, was contributing immensely in ensuring that agriculture students focus on their studies without worrying about their health.
“The student farmer medical aid package is already assisting college authorities in managing the medical needs of students at all the agricultural colleges.
“As a result no student will experience a delay in treatment for lack of money and no student will harbour a disease because one cannot afford to pay for treatment or that the student is out of his pocket,” said Mr Nyamangara.
Colleges already benefiting include Kushinga-Phikelela, Chibero, Gwebi, Blackford, Mazowe Veterinary, Shamva, Mlezu, Rio Tinto and Esigodini.
Gamas general manager Mr Jabulani Dhlakama said cover was being extended to other colleges involved with training of student farmers.
“In the whole world it is a tradition for students at higher learning institutions to have special medical insurance and today students at agricultural training colleges enjoy this benefit for their healthcare benefit,” said Mr Dhlakama.
He added that the aim of the package was to promote wellness among students and ensure that they were well enough to concentrate on their studies and excel.
“By providing such a medical aid package to student farmers Gamas is assisting the nation in securing the supply of skills in agriculture today and tomorrow.
“Wellness is key to the success of every nation, we therefore have to ensure that we achieve that,” he said.
He added that Gamas was working with all the colleges to ensure that those not infected with HIV and Aids remained negative while those infected get necessary support they need to survive.
Gamas, which is one of the fast rising medical aid societies, was born out of the transformation of Grainmed Medical Aid Society (GrainMed), which used to cover Grain Marketing Board employees and their beneficiaries only.
GrainMed resumed operations in July 2007 with 3 174 members and more than 10 000 beneficiaries.