Tambacounda, Dec. 1 (APS) – A total of 150 Jakarta motorcycle drivers in the department of Tambacounda (east) have benefited from universal health coverage (CMU) through the NGO CICODEV/Africa (Institute for Citizenship, Consumption and Development in Africa), according to its policy advocacy officer, Dr. Ibrahima Pouye.
“We have started an action research process aimed at creating a strong health system adapted to vulnerable populations. That is why the mutualists have agreed to enroll 150 Jakartamen in the department of Tambacounda,” he said.
Dr. Pouye was speaking to the press at the end of a ceremony held at the Tambacounda City Hall with the regional service, mutualists and Jakarta motorcycle drivers.
The Jakartamen are an important link in the economy of this region. And we wanted to help them acquire health insurance,” he explained.
It is then a matter of trying to make them aware of the advantages of group membership in order to benefit from coverage during traffic accidents or illness.
Jakarta motorcycle drivers are estimated at more than 6,300 in the department of Tambacounda, this social category is confronted daily with traffic accidents and always has injured in its midst,” said Dr. Ibrahima Pouye.
As a result, he continued, insurance companies do not accept them, because of the irregular nature of this mode of transport and the risks involved.
“Thus, Jakarta motorcycle drivers felt that the CMU should be a solution to their medical care, especially since they make direct payments to hospitals every day,” said Dr. Pouye.
Beyond Jakarta drivers, CICODEV urges organized groups to join mutual health insurance plans en masse in order to increase the coverage rate, strengthen health financing and improve the quality of services.
The organization has initiated a strategy to bring together organized groups and mutualists with the results obtained from July 2020 to November 2021, the enrollment of more than 6,700 members across the 14 regions of Senegal, says a document submitted to the press.