Online Reporter
Talent Gore
H-Metro Reporter
HARARE residents can now get medical insurance cover for just a dollar following the launch of the Community Health Equity Fund (CHEF).
The scheme, backed by Government, UNFPA, ZB Financial Holdings and HHMAS, will see residents pay US$1 to register and US$2 per year. The pilot project starts in Mbare and Hopeley before spreading to Waterfalls, Sunningdale, Arcadia, Braeside and Hatfield.
Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume, said the scheme will ease pressure on central hospitals.
“We handle 2,500 births a month and over 400 outpatients daily. With Mabvuku Clinic now doing caesareans, mothers no longer need to be rushed to rural hospitals,” he said.He added that by decentralising more services, patients with conditions such as fractures or those seeking maternity care would not need to travel to Parirenyatwa or Sally Mugabe hospitals.
UNFPA chipped in with US$709,000 to kickstart the project, with Country Representative Miranda Tabifore saying the scheme will not fail.
“It is going to succeed, and it will give birth to others. We have been waiting for this for a long time and are committed to providing technical support and expertise to ensure sustainability,” she said.
The scheme is expected to cushion residents from high out-of-pocket medical expenses while improving access to quality health care.
Mathew Masinge