Preparations insurance project and the internal organization

Preparations insurance project
Pending the decision on additional funding for the micro-insurance project by the Agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, we have already started some preliminary activities. We have designed a questionnaire that we are now testing in a number of rural communities (see photo upper right). A fist (single) questionnaire identifies the basic characteristics of the families. The second (weekly) questionnaire monitors the monetary expenditures and income, the developments in the health situation of families and the willingness to spend part of their income on insurance premiums for a whole year. Next year another (single) more extensive research will address the “Willingness to Pay”.

Internal organization
I also started to work on the internal organization. There too, I am grateful that we can make good use of the expertise within Achmea. This week my brother Sjaak has organized two training sessions (2 times 20 people) on collaboration and feedback (see second photo at the right). He is a trainer for a.o. LTC and he is here for a short holiday. It was very nice to see how innovative working methods can also be discussed in a Burundian context. Feedback still is not a common tool to use and is often perceived as criticism, especially when it concerns a superior it is not seen as self-evident.

I also make good use of the Compas experience at Achmea. Again it is nice to see how this kind of Western concepts can be picked up and used in Burundi. Next week I start the progress interviews: 70 meetings spread over 2 weeks, so that will be a lot of work. This year, the first time, I will be present at all meetings and I hope next year my fellow MT members will be able to do most of the meetings.

This Friday I also have a strategic retreat in Cibitoke on the future of HealthNet TPO here in Burundi and the change process we have to set up for that. Cibitoke lies some 100km North of Bujumbura in the Imbo-area near the borders with Congo and Rwanda. My colleague Herman has built a hotel there that he wants us to see.

Health care is still very poor
This week was a travelling week anyway, as I was in Gitega (central Burundi) Wednesday and Thursday to monitor the preparations for the insurance project and to visit a district hospital that we would like to refurbish (see third photo). That is very much needed. The circumstances and the care that can be provided remain unsatisfactory.  From the outside it looks quite nice, but once you are inside, your eyes will be full of tears. The moment that also here people can take quality health care for granted, is still very far away.