ONG VISA: making health insurance a priority for motorbike taxi drivers

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Extract from the article: Motorbike taxi drivers play an essential role in our society, providing fast, accessible transport. But they face considerable risks in the event of accidents or illness. Aware of their vulnerability in terms of access to healthcare, the NGO Volontai

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Motorbike taxi drivers play an essential role in our society, providing fast, accessible transport. But they face considerable risks in the event of accidents or illness. Aware of their vulnerability in terms of access to healthcare, the NGO Volontaires Internationaux pour la promotion de la Sante en Afrique (VISA) organised a conference on Wednesday 18 October 2023 for motorbike taxi drivers on the theme of « Health Insurance for Motorcycle Taxi Drivers: A Priority ». The conference served as an advocacy forum to mobilise the public, the media and decision-makers to recognise health insurance for motorbike taxi drivers as a public health priority and to encourage concrete action.

In Togo, 7507 road accidents were recorded in 2022. Accidents resulted in 683 deaths and 9918 injuries, compared with 680 and 9376 respectively a year earlier.An average of 2,670 people were admitted to emergency facilities.To support motorbike taxi drivers during the state of emergency, they need to understand the need and importance of taking out health insurance for their own well-being and that of their families.Through this meeting, the NGO VISA aims to encourage collaboration between government bodies, NGOs, insurance companies and motorbike taxi drivers to develop specific policies and programmes to promote health insurance. Health insurance is a system designed to insure an individual against the financial risks of care in the event of illness, as well as a minimum income when the illness deprives the person of work.

For Dr Damien Ekoué-Kouvahey, President of the NGO VISA, « today, the motorbike taxi driver is an important player in Togo's economic life. Taxi drivers face limited access to healthcare, a high financial burden, and delays in seeking medical care because of financial concerns.This can worsen their condition, making treatment less effective and potentially more expensive.The lack of health insurance for motorbike taxi drivers may reflect a social injustice, as these workers provide an essential service but are often excluded from social protection.The aim of this medical cover is to support motorbike taxi drivers in the event of injury and to get the injured to hospital. This health insurance scheme covers the cost of treatment and care, and aims to ensure the well-being of two-wheeled vehicle drivers and their families ».

MUSA-VISA, a mutual health insurance company, is a type of insurance organisation whose main aim is to supplement reimbursements for healthcare expenses.Its objectives are to provide security in the event of illness, to offer quality care at lower cost to its members and to reduce self-medication. The NGO VISA invites the motorbike taxi drivers' unions to combine their efforts and visions so that they can carry out their work in complete peace of mind.

William O.