Vodacom provides health insurance to mothers, newborns 

TANZANIA: Vodacom Tanzania has provided one-year comprehensive health insurance coverage to 600 mothers and newborns at Mwananyamala, Amana, and Temeke regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam.

The Chief Medical Officer of Mwananyamala Regional Referral Hospital, Dr Zavery Benela said at the weekend that the donation comes at the right time just a few days after President Samia Suluhu Hassan signed the Universal Health Insurance bill into law to facilitate access to healthcare services for Tanzanians regardless of their economic status.

“This donation touches the health of mothers and newborns,” he said.

According to Vodacom, the donation of insurance cover to mothers and newborns is part of the company’s ongoing festive campaign ‘Sambaza Shangwe, Gusa Maisha.’

“This group often faces various illnesses in the early stages, thus resulting in financial burdens for many families who cannot afford medical costs,” Dr Benela said.

Vodacom’s campaign was launched last month and is expected to last until mid-January next year.

The main goal is to reward its customers for sticking with Vodacom whilst also providing a gift of love to both customers and non-customers.

A total of 2,000 mothers and children nationwide are expected to benefit and so far, Mbeya, Zanzibar, and Dodoma have already received the donation.

One of the beneficiaries, Ms Sharifa Abdallah, said she was fortunate to be among the recipients of the free health insurance coverage for a whole year for both mother and child.

“Oftentimes, health issues arise when I don’t have any savings hence, I’ve had to either borrow money from neighbours and relatives or sell my household items,” she said.

The Acting Executive Head of the Dar es Salaam and Coast Region at Vodacom Tanzania  Mr George Nyanda said the maternal health has always been close to Vodacom’s heart hence creating the digital insurance product—VodaBima.

“Through this campaign, we not only hope to raise awareness on the essence of medical insurance coverage but also demonstrate that medical insurance is for everyone not just the privileged few like many believe,” he said.