Fund Invents New Scheme For Diasporas

The National Social Security Fund, NSSF, has invented a new social security system, the Welfare Scheme for Tanzanian Diaspora, WESTADI which targets to benefit Tanzanians working overseas.

The Fund’s Chief of Public relations and Customer Services Mrs. Eunice Chiume made the revelation to visitors to the NSSF’s Pavilion yesterday 30th June 2010 at the 34th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair. The Fund which won the second Prize at the 33 DITF last year, is taking part again in this year’s Fair.

Mrs. Chiume said members of the new scheme would be required to contribute a minimum of $ 200 per year in return for two main benefits. She named the benefits as Medical Services and Repatriation.

Explaining the medical benefit, she said members would receive medical treatment while in Tanzania which service is entitled to their dependants or family left at home. The Fund provides its members with Out and In Patient medical services through reputable medical service providers, in what has become popular as the Social Health Insurance Benefit (SHIB).

Regarding repatriation, Mrs Chiume told the visitors that the Fund would pay for the transportation of a deceased member and also provide a return ticket for one accompanying person.

Likewise, the Fund would provide a ticket for a terminally ill member and a return ticket for an accompanying person. Furthermore, she said, the NSSF would provide a one way ticket to a distressed member returning home.

The Fund’s Director of Operations Mr. Crescentius Magori is currently in the US fine-tuning the new scheme before it is formally launched.