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Western Equatoria State Governor Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa has donated 15 million South Sudanese Pounds to support a community health insurance programme for vulnerable people.

The donation was made on Thursday, August 13, in Yambio during the launch of the community health insurance programme by the Rural Health Solidarity Initiative, RHSI.

According to the Governor’s Office, the programme targets more than 1,000 vulnerable people, including persons with disabilities, internally displaced people, single mothers, widows and elderly people.

It also covers families displaced by conflict from Tambura and Mundri East counties. The programme aims to make basic healthcare more affordable through a community-based health insurance scheme.

Under the scheme, members will pay a registration fee of 15,000 South Sudanese Pounds and receive a membership card covering a family of five.

The scheme will provide beneficiaries with outpatient consultations, basic laboratory services, essential medicines, maternal and child healthcare, and health education.

Governor Rimbasa said the initiative is particularly important for vulnerable and displaced communities facing difficulties accessing and paying for healthcare.

He said shortages of medicines at government health facilities sometimes affect access to treatment, adding that the insurance scheme could help registered beneficiaries obtain prescribed medicines when such shortages occur.

The Governor reaffirmed the state government’s support for the programme and said the Ministry of Health would work with RHSI to strengthen healthcare services for vulnerable communities.

He also called on other stakeholders to support efforts to expand affordable healthcare across Western Equatoria State.