Providing affordable
medical care.

The mission of Pillar of Health is to have every child/youth living with type 1 diabetes in Rwanda to have health insurance.

The most common type of health insurance is known as mutuelle de sante, under which each family member pays $4 per year and subsequently the medical cost is significantly reduced to ten percent (10%); for instance, $2 will be required instead of $20 per month.

Pillar of Health (PoH) will employ two system solution; first by raising funds to provide free health insurance to those who cannot afford it, and then use local solutions such as vocational training and locally available jobs to enable the recipients to be able to pay for themselves in subsequent years.  PoH will work with government, private sector and clergy to secure employment for those whose insurance is paid. A constant follow- up will be necessary to address any concerns and to ensure that our goals are being met.

The country has developed a centralized website that includes national ID for head of families indicating the family size and age of each family member. Using the national ID, mutuelle de sante is paid at any bank or cash transfer agency anywhere in country, avoiding risk of handling money to individual beneficiaries. 

PoH will focus on local solutions such as agriculture, animal husbandry, crafting, sewing, hair dressing, also selling client produced products both inside and outside of the country (ex. USA) with money going back to the community.

PoH will continue to work with government for consistent provision of insulin and others supplies to district hospitals. The use of peer-support (and leaders) to make sure that patients are seeking care on a regular basis will be included. Peer-support will be working as volunteers to keep us informed of the ongoing health and welfare situation for each client. Each peer-support volunteer will be provided with a smart phone for regular communication, and in some cases with a bicycle.