KAFUE District Health Director Sydney Hamusonde has noted with concern the underutilisation of the extended National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) coverage by households under Social Cash Transfer due to lack of sensitisation.
Dr Hamusonde notes that despite the Government’s effort to extend NHIMA coverage to the targeted beneficiaries, the services are still not fully utilised by the recipients.
In an interview with ZANIS, Dr Hamusonde observed some knowledge gaps have been attributed to insufficient information available to the recipients about accessing the services.
“There is insufficient information given to the beneficiaries about NHIMA extended coverage to the vulnerable households under Social Cash Transfer, hence, the underutilisation of the services,” Dr Hamusonde said.
Dr Hamusonde stated that recipients of the extended NHIMA coverage need to be educated on the qualifications and services they can access to fully appreciate the government’s effort to provide access to health care.
He expressed optimism that with adequate sensitisation more beneficiaries from low-income households will be able to appreciate the government’s effort to provide affordable health care services in the district.
“Once the recipients of extended NHIMA coverage are sensitised we do not doubt that they will be able to seek health services and appreciate the government’s effort to provide access to health services,” Dr Hamusonde stated.
Meanwhile, the Twatasha Disability Organisation has noted that the introduction of the extended National Insurance Scheme coverage to households under Social Cash Transfer has provided persons with disabilities access to healthcare services.
Twatasha Disability Organisation Programmes Officer, Jones Shamalambo said the development has a positive impact on persons with disabilities as they can afford healthcare services.
“The introduction of extended NHIMA coverage to the households under Social Cash Transfer has a positive impact on the people with disabilities as they have access to affordable healthcare,” said Mr Hamalambo.
He stated that persons with disabilities had challenges with affording proper medical services due to inadequate finances hence commending the Government on the move.
Last year in June, the Government embarked on an initiative to extend the National Health Insurance scheme coverage to the beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfers in Kafue.
The extension of medical coverage to the poor and vulnerable pilot project targeted to register over a 100,000 beneficiaries in selected 7 Districts across the country.
Kafue was the second district to implement the pilot project after Ndola and 2000 households were targeted.
