A transformative healthcare initiative targeting the most vulnerable members of society is taking shape in Tinderet Sub-county.
Area Member of Parliament Julius Melly has moved to secure medical insurance coverage for poor elderly residents and disadvantaged households through NG-CDF support.
The programme, which focuses on identifying and enlisting beneficiaries under the Social Health Authority, is expected to significantly ease the burden of healthcare costs for hundreds of families who have long struggled to access essential medical services due to financial challenges.
Unveiled during a public engagement forum in the constituency, the initiative underscores a growing push by leaders to strengthen social protection systems at the grassroots level, particularly for populations at risk of exclusion from critical services such as healthcare.
Addressing residents, Melly said the move is anchored on the belief that access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege for a few but a right enjoyed by all, regardless of economic status.
He noted that many elderly citizens and vulnerable individuals often face dire health challenges but lack the means to seek timely and adequate medical attention.
He explained that through the NG-CDF, his office would facilitate the payment of insurance premiums, ensuring that beneficiaries are fully covered and able to seek treatment in accredited health facilities without fear of financial strain.
“A healthy society is a wealthy one. When our people are strong and free from preventable illnesses, they are able to participate fully in development activities and improve their livelihoods,” said the legislator.
He further revealed that a structured identification process is already underway, involving collaboration with chiefs, village elders, and community health volunteers to ensure that only deserving cases are enlisted. He emphasised that transparency and accountability would guide the entire exercise.
Priority, he said, would be given to elderly persons without a stable source of income, persons living with disabilities, and households facing extreme poverty, noting that these groups are often the most affected by lack of access to quality healthcare.
In addition to funding the insurance cover, the MP highlighted plans to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, health institutions, and non-governmental organisations, to enhance service delivery and ensure that insured residents receive quality care.
“We are building a system that will not only enrol people into insurance but also guarantee that the services they receive are dignified, timely, and effective,” he added.
The initiative has been welcomed by local leaders and residents, who described it as a lifeline for many families that have been pushed to the brink by high medical costs.
Some residents noted that the programme would help reduce reliance on fundraising efforts commonly used to offset hospital bills.
By Sammy Mwibanda
