COWS HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME (CHIP) REPUBLIC OF RWANDA WESTERN PROVINCE RUSIZI DISTRICT Presented by Vincent NSENGIYUMVA Executive Secretary of NKUNGU Sector COWS HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME (CHIP) NOVEMBER 5TH 2018

RUSIZI DISTRICT MAP AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION Akarere Nyamasheke Sectors: 18 Cells: 94 Villages: 596 Population: 404,712 hab. Households:82,311 Total Area: 940.945km2 Urbanised area: 88.16 km2 Gross density: 422 h/ km2 Akarere ka Nyamagabe RDC Republic of BURUNDI Akarere ka Nyaruguru DR of the CONGO U Burundi

I.INTRODUCTION The Government of Rwanda has recently introduced the new program to deliver cows to vulnerable families so that they should improve their social-economic development as many families underwent the 1994 Tutsi genocide consequences. This program was introduced to help the majority of citizens as of now 95% of the Rwandans carry out farming as their main source of income. So, the production of milk and manure should help them get rid of poverty.

II.THE PROBLEMATIC After five years of this programme, the assessment had shown that many families offered cows had not improved their life both socially and economically due to the following reasons: Most of poor families offered cows are not able to provide them needed veterinary services . Veterinary pharmacies are not available in many villages and poor families have no transport means to access them in towns which are distant away from rural areas. Most of poor families are not able to buy veterinary medicines because they are expensive in pharmacies located in towns. Most of farmers have no skills about veterinary medicines such that they sometimes buy those which are expired or which are inappropriate to sicknesses. Most of farmers try to take care of their cows when they are already seriously attacked and not easily to recover.

III.CONSEQUENCES All these challenges/problems caused several deaths of cows and low production of milk.Therefore, the objective is not successfully achieved as the lifestyle of families which are given cows remains the same.

IV.THE PROJECT CONCEPTION&IMPLEMENTATION We have innovated a right program that can facilitate farmers to access to veterinary medicines through mutual insurance at cheap cost, near their farming area to avoid long distance, appropriate and at the right time. By the time this is achieved, cows will be treated accordingly and then the production of milk will increase so does the benefit from livestock. Cows lives will be saved too as they are normally treated well when they are sick.

CON’T We made a committee of eight members to sensitize farmers to deposit 2,000 Rwf (2.2$) per cow on account Number 4893 opened in Umurenge SACCO (savings and credits cooperative) as cow health insurance in the period of one year. During this sensitization, farmers were explained how the program will be implemented, terms and conditions as well as the programme outcomes. Among 2,236 cows counted in Nkungu sector,1876 (83%) immediately contributed to be member of this program (Cows health insurance). We introduced at sector level a veterinary pharmacy store containing all medicines that are always needed for cows sicknesses.

CON’T We formed a committee composed of Sector Veterinary, farmers representative, to manage the pharmacy store and made necessary tools/documents to be used. We decided the slip and template to be filled for the cow which is paid for health mutual insurance fees. We put in place rules and regulations to be respected for this program. A cow member is eligible to get medicines for at least 15 days. It was concluded that cow members of this program pay only 20% of the medicines total cost when it is treated. This amount is deposited also on the same bank account to enrich it. Eight sites where cows are treated have been fixed to avoid long walk.

V. OBSERVATION/ADVANTAGES As medicines are bought together, costs are reduced. Examples: 1.ALBENDAZOLE 2500mg (also called albenol or vermitin) costs 1800 Rwf in private veterinary pharmacies while in our stock, it costs 850Rwf .The program member pays only 20% equals to 170 Rwf. 2. A farmer who buys ALMBENDAZOLE 2500mg in private pharmacy pays 1500 Rwf (1.7 US $) while in our stock it is given for 650 Rwf (0.7US $) and pay only its 20% which is 130 Rwf (0.1 US $). 3.NILZAN costs 600 Rwf in private pharmacy while in our stock It costs 270 Rwf,and the beneficiary pays 20% equals to 54 Rwf.

6. PROJECT IMPACTS/ACHIEVMENTS From Feb 2017 to June 2017, It was reported that 36 cows died of lacking medical care. Until July 25, 2017 when this program is operational no cow death is recorded now that their living conditions are improved. Life expectancy is highly increased. The production of milk increased from 1284litres /day in May 2017 to 2167 litres/day in May 2018.The difference is 883 litres/day. 1 litre of milk costs 500 Rwf.The total additional benefit is 300Rwf * 883=441,500 Rwf/day (502 US $/day). Mutual insurance help poor farmers as their little contribution support them one another.

Con’t The number of cows producing milk increased from 428 in May 2017 to 767 in May 2018. This is due to the improvement of living conditions. All of these were achieved due to easy availability of medicines near farmers, at low cost, at right time and appropriate to cow sickness. As farmers are benefiting more from the livestock, they now make Farmers cooperative and start to construct their own milk collection center and progress with a Diary very soon for milk additional value. At the beginning, they contributed 30,000,000 Rwf (34,168 US $) to start the construction project.

SOME MEDICINES AVAILABLE IN OUR STORE

THE PROGRAM LAUNCH The program launch

Farmers are mobilized to be members of CHIP

OTHER PHOTOS RELATING TO THIS PROGRAM Ring given to cow after being member of CHIP

PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP FORM WESTERN PROVINCE   RUSIZI DISTRICT NKUNGU SECTOR COW HEALTH INSURANCE FORM 1.FARMER’S IDENTIFICATION Farmer’s name: Sector:……………………….. Cell…..................... Village……………… .Telephone number……..................Number of insured cows ……… 2.INSURED COW IDENTIFICATION Skin colour ………………Name……………..Earring number…………………Breed type……………………Sex……………….Cow/Bull or Calf………………. Insurance started on:………………………… NB:This form is approved only when the cow started getting the veterinary services and the cow gets treated after 15 days from the insurance delivery. Done at Nkungu on ……../……../2018-MARCH 2019 This form was prepared and reviewed by: Approved by: ………………………………………… ………………………………………. Sector Veterinary Executive Secretary Nkungu Sector Nkungu Sector

The construction milk collection center

Future improvement We are making an IT application system that will facilitate us to manage this project effectively. After the project assessment, it is decided that it must be implemented in sectors of Rusizi District.

CONCLUSION It is obvious that this program changed people’s lives in Nkungu Sector/Rusizi District Through the increment of milk productivity and manure,farmers are now able to satisfy their basic needs.

THANKS