Access to healthcare services has long been a challenge for community members in Kinyamangi village. With the nearest health facilities, Karugutu Health Center IV and Musadama HC III, located 8 kilometres away, community members often have no choice but to carry their sick on wooden stretchers over the hilly and rough paths. For years, maternal and infant deaths, preventable illnesses, and the burden of high medical costs have weighed heavily on this resilient community. But in 2022, they decided to take matters into their own hands.

With a group of 135 members (95 women and 40 men), they combined efforts to form the Kinyamangi Tukurakurane Village Savings and Loans Association. Their vision extended beyond improving household incomes to wanting a financial fund for health emergencies by pooling their resources, to ensure that no member of their community suffers due to a lack of funds to swiftly rush them for medical care.

With guidance from the Enabel trained Village Health Team members (ambassadors) in August 2023, the group members began to save for healthcare expenses. Within 8 months, they had saved 2,167,000 UGX, setting a weekly savings goal of at least 50,000 UGX, with each member contributing not less than 500 UGX per week.

Basemera Margaret, one of the mothers in the group, was able to borrow 30,000 UGX to treat her child’s injury. “I used the loan to pay for transport for taking the child to Karugutu HC IV,” she shared. Another member, Musubaho Amos, also borrowed 30,000 UGX when his child fell sick. He said, “it is a relief to know that when our children or even ourselves need urgent medical care, we have somewhere to turn to and acquire a loan without interest.” At the time of borrowing, Basemera had saved 18,000 UGX for health, while Amos had 21,500 UGX.

The savings fund has also been a lifeline for expectant mothers who are members of the group. Two women in the group accessed funds to cover transportation costs to the health facility for safe deliveries. “It may seem like a small amount, but these savings ensured that our mothers gave birth safely, by paying for transport to health facilities.” Said Kaswara David, the group’s chairperson.

As the membership continues to grow, David said that the group is considering engaging in income-generating activities and seeking government support through livelihood programmes to further bolster their savings.

The group chairperson said that the lack of safe drinking water has led to an increase in diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea, and malaria, further underscoring the necessity of the saving for health initiative as they continue to advocate for a lasting solution to address the above disease causes.

Against all odds, the group members of Kinyamangi are determined to ensure that their health savings fund continues to promote access to healthcare services through facilitating the movement to facilities and the buying of medicine.

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