We’re happy to have started a health insurance program. We have been seeing more families of diversely abled children, some with severe and complex disabilities, coming to us in need of support. Many of these children require medical attention, sometimes with their health further deteriorating from a lack of proper treatment. This is primarily driven by the high costs of medical care and medications, which are often unaffordable for families living on about a dollar a day. Single mothers, in particular, face additional challenges, as they are frequently unable to work because they need to care for their disabled children, thus lacking any meaningful income.
Even though there is health insurance available in Tanzania, it remains uncommon for children to be covered. The parents coming to us didn’t know about insurance options, couldn’t afford them, and mostly didn’t have the right documents to sign up, like birth certificates for their kids. We help them get the papers they need, take passport photos, guide them through the sign-up process, and raise the funds needed for the yearly insurance plan.
All this takes time, effort, and funds. We’re very grateful for the donors who help out with covering the funds, and extend a huge thank-you to the supporters on the ground who spend countless hours trying to obtain birth certificates from local hospitals, getting the photos right for the national health insurance fund, following up with the insurance and families, and battling with mobile signup services. Beyond insurance coverage, we also strive to support families by supporting with medications, procedures, and mobility aids that are not included in insurance plans.
We are happy to start to offer this program to low-income families with children with disabilities: it grants them the peace of mind of not having to choose between medical care for their child’s needs and feeding their families.