By Louis Loku
Western Equatoria State Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa has donated SSP 15 million to the Rural Health Solidarity Initiative (RHSI) to support a newly launched community health insurance program targeting vulnerable people across the state.
The contribution was announced on Thursday during the official launch of the community health insurance program in Yambio, which aims to improve access to affordable healthcare for more than 1,000 vulnerable people, including persons living with disabilities (PLWD), internally displaced persons (IDPs), single mothers, widows, and elderly people.
The program also targets families displaced by conflict from Tambura and Mundri East counties, who are facing challenges in accessing essential health services.
RHSI is a women-led, community-based organisation established in Yambio to promote affordable and quality healthcare through community health financing, preventive health education and partnerships with the government and other stakeholders.
Under the program, beneficiaries will pay SSP 15,000 as a registration fee and receive a membership card covering a family of five; a husband, wife, and three children.
The health insurance scheme provides coverage for outpatient consultations, basic laboratory services, essential medicines, maternal and child healthcare, as well as health education.
Speaking during the launch, Governor Badagbu said the initiative would play an important role in supporting vulnerable communities, particularly people displaced by conflict who often struggle to meet the cost of medical treatment.
The governor acknowledged challenges faced by public health facilities, including shortages of medicines, saying the community health insurance scheme could help registered beneficiaries access affordable treatment and prescribed medicines when government hospitals face such constraints.
Badagbu reaffirmed the state government’s political support for the initiative and pledged closer cooperation between the State Ministry of Health and RHSI to strengthen healthcare services for vulnerable communities.
He said the SSP 15 million donation would specifically help facilitate the registration of vulnerable beneficiaries, particularly persons living with disabilities, enabling them to benefit from the health insurance program.
The governor commended RHSI for introducing a community-led approach to health financing and urged other stakeholders to support the initiative so that it can reach more vulnerable people across Western Equatoria State.
The launch marks an effort to expand community-based health financing and reduce financial barriers preventing vulnerable households from accessing essential healthcare services.