Barriers to Accessing Healthcare in Rwanda

Over the past twenty years Rwanda has seen exceptional improvements in health outcomes. They have witnessed a decrease in the unmet need for family planning, a decrease in the prevalence of HIV, and an increase in access to preventive services such as mosquito nets.

One of the major factors that has contributed to these improvements has been a generous national budget designated to healthcare expenditure (including subsidization of the national health scheme, Mutuelle). In Rwanda in 2015/2016 the percent of the national budget allocated to healthcare was 10.2% compared to Uganda 5.3% and Kenya 4% in the same period (http://www.eannaso.org/resources/reports/33-eannaso-2015-eac-health-financing-profile/file). By investing in the health of its citizens, Rwanda is increasing the intellectual capacity, productivity, and economic success of the country.

However, one of the opportunities many TWB women still lack IS access to health insurance. Most women who start our training program are not insured even though Mutuelle is designed to be affordable based on family income. This is because many barriers still exist in accessing Mutuelle, including lack of knowledge about the plan, documentation for registration, and inability to save money.

The Women’s Bakery hopes to be the missing link that will connect families to Mutuelle services. This month the eight women working at our Remera bakery have been signing their families up for the health insurance plan with the help of our Operations Manager, Yvonne. Yvonne has helped to educate, collect proper documentation, and develop personal budgets to make health insurance a reality.

In total eight women, four husbands, and thirty children will be registered for national healthcare. Thank you to all of our supporters who believe it what we do, the women we work with, and the families and communities they support. We couldn’t do it without you.

Healthy Bakers = Happy Bakers

In Rwanda, the national, comprehensive health insurance plan is called Mutuelle.

This plan allows families to access governmental health services at a free or reduced rate after they sign-up annually. The cost is 3,000 RWF (approximately $3.50) per person per year. However, individuals that are part of a family are required to sign-up the whole family at one time. So, for a family of six, the cost for one year of Mutuelle is 18,000 RWF (approximately $22.50). While this seems like an extremely affordable price, many families report making below 30,000 RWF (approximately $37) per month and have household expenses closer to 60,000 RWF (approximately $75) per month. This makes it just out of reach to save for and invest 18,000 RWF in Mutuelle yearly.

In Remera, Kigali part of the benefit package for the women working in the bakery is Mutuelle coverage for their whole families. Last week, women were provided funds to sign-up their families. For approximately $160, we were able to insure eight women and their families.

What does this mean for the women?

It means malaria treatment, access to family planning services, pre-natal care, emergency services, and treatment for minor illnesses which often become significant health concerns when basic healthcare services cannot be accessed early enough.

The impact of this coverage for TWB women is indescribable. Previously a service far out of reach, their work in the bakery has made access to healthcare a reality.

For $3.50 per person per year we can ensure that our bakers have access to basic healthcare coverage meaning healthier and happier employees, lower levels of stress, and healthier families overall.