NSSF OPENS UP TO TANZANIANS IN THE DIASPORA

NSSF Chief, Public Relations & Customer Service, Ms. Eunice Chiume

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has called upon Tanzanian's living abroad to register for the Welfare Scheme for Tanzanian's in Diaspora (WESTADI), that was established in 2011.

The WESTADI Scheme was inaugurated by H.E. President Jakaya Kikwete during the 50 years anniversary of Tanzania's Independence in Maryland, USA.

"The response from the Diaspora has been less than ideal, thus causing the scheme to stall. The WESTADI Scheme is intended to benefit the Tanzanian community living abroad by providing repatriation benefits for the deceased member as well as health insurance benefits for up to four (4) dependents of the underlying member living in Tanzania", said NSSF Chief, Public Relations & Customer Service, Ms. Eunice Chiume at the DITF Grounds last week.

Ms. Chiume further said, "The main objective of the WESTADI scheme is to alleviate the high costs of transporting Tanzanian's deceased bodies for burial back home and also to reduce the burden of the cost of medical cover for dependents of a Tanzanian living abroad".

It has been witnessed through social media and other communication platforms that when a Tanzanian dies abroad, it is a costly exercise to transport the body back home. Likewise, Tanzanian's in the Diaspora are frequently faced with the challenge of sending money home for medical costs.

With these two challenges in mind, NSSF designed the WESTADI Scheme exclusively for Tanzanian's living overseas. Ms. Chiume also stated that since its inauguration, the scheme has improved its services by providing an online payment platform dubbed 'NSSF 4 PAY', which cuts significantly on time and cost of money transfers for members.

Members of the WESTADI Scheme are obliged to pay a premium of $300 per year per member for the cover. Ms. Chiume has urged all Tanzania's living in the Diaspora to sign up for this scheme so that they can have peace of mind.