NGORORERO – At least 1,000 residents in Ngororero District have had their health insurance paid by Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).

Handing over the insurance cards on Monday, at activities to mark the provincial Tax Payer’s day in the district, the Director for Tax Services at RRA, Gerald Nkusi Mukubu, said the gesture was part of the tax body’s social corporate responsibility and a way of giving back to the community.

Mukubu said: "It is high time the communities stopped seeing RRA as an enemy or fearing it. RRA is there to serve Rwandan society.”

Calling on residents to fight smuggling, he said the health insurance cover would increase access to medication and guarantee good health.

"Let us cooperate and curb smuggling in this area if our country is to develop faster,” Mukubu said.

Speaking to The New Times, Gideon Ruboneza, Ngororero Mayor said the beneficiaries were selected from various villages.

Vestine Nungukirihe, a casual worker said she could not afford health insurance for herself and her children.

"I feel very happy to have insurance cover for my children, I had totally failed to pay for it from my daily earnings,” the mother of nine said.

In a separate interview, Mukubu disclosed that RRA has so far cleared health insurance for over 3,000 residents across the country.

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