Ouagadougou: A communication and visibility meeting on the Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU) was held in Zorgho on August 26, 2024. This initiative of the Permanent Secretariat of NGOs is part of a broader framework, aimed at promoting access to health services for vulnerable groups and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in six communes of the health districts of Ziniaré and Zorgho.Chaired by the Prefect of the Zoungou department, Mahamoudou Consigui, representing the High Commissioner of the Ganzourgou province, the meeting brought together various stakeholders, including members of the health monitoring committees (CVS), the Head Nurses (ICP) of Méguet, Zoungou and Zorgho, as well as associative and customary leaders. The presence of Mr. Pascal Guigma, responsible for monitoring and evaluation at SPONG, was particularly noted.The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss in depth the RAMU, an essential program to strengthen social security in Burkina Faso. The project manager at SPONG, Mr. Eugè ne Bakouan, presented the context of the establishment of the RAMU, the stages of its design and operationalization, as well as its financing mechanisms. He recalled that the RAMU, as a contributory branch of social protection, aims to reduce vulnerability linked to illness by removing financial barriers to access to health care.Mr. Eugène Bakouan also presented the community monitoring project, which aims to strengthen access to health services and health insurance for vulnerable populations. This project, inspired by the experiences of the community monitoring carried out from 2021 to 2023, focuses on removing geographical and physical obstacles to access to care, as well as promoting citizenship and citizen control of public action, in accordance with axis 2 of the SPONG 2023-2032 strategic plan.Mr. Bakouan stressed the importance of building the capacities of stakeholders, producing tangible evidence of the difficulties faced by vulnerable groups, and carrying out advocacy actions to improve accountab ility within communities. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to promote community health in 10 health districts, including Ziniaré and Zorgho.Participants took the opportunity to ask questions, including on the RAMU implementation schedule and communication mechanisms to ensure broader understanding.The CVS President of Méguet, Mrs. Awa Larissa Kaboré, expressed her joy at taking part in this meeting. She said she had received crucial information that allowed her to better understand RAMU. She joined her voice to that of the "Tom Naba" of Zorgho in hoping for the multiplication of meetings of this type in order to reach as many people as possible. In the meantime, they committed to sharing the information received with others.The Chief Medical Officer of the Zorgho Health District (MCD), Dr. Delphin Kaboré, reassured the audience that other meetings will be organized to deepen understanding of RAMU. He insisted on the need to correctly relay the information received.The meeting ended with th anks from the Prefect of Zoungou who welcomed the initiative of SPONG and its partners. He also urged participants to share the information received to facilitate better appropriation of RAMU by the populations. "The administration will do its share of responsibility for the well-being of the populations," he said at the end of the session.Source: Burkina Information Agency
Menu