Launching Health Insurance for the Private Sector
On Thursday December 5th, 2013, the founding assembly of a new “Mutuelle de Santé des Entreprises du Secteur Privé” took place in Hotel Source du Nil in Bujumbura. This new Mutual Insurance is an initiative by AEB, the Association des Employeurs du Burundi, and is based on a feasibility study co-financed by DECP. The conclusion of the study was that such insurance for basic health care can successfully start with about 45 companies with over 7500 workers. The secretary general of AEB was elected as temporary chairman of the board, in which trade unions of the private sector (Cosybu) are represented.
On Tuesday December 10th, 2013, a conference for launching the new Mutuelle was organised by AEB with participation of ILO representatives from Kinshasa, Genève and Yaounde, as well as a high level representation from the ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. DECP funded this activity and was represented by its country manager, J.M. Standaert. The local media were very well represented. The new Mutuelle must now first receive a license from the Ministry and is expected to start its activities by April 1st, 2014.