The Lagos State Ministry of Health, through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding residents by integrating domestic and sexual violence response services into the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.
This was disclosed by the LASHMA Claims Officer, Mrs. Anyebe Margret, during her presentation at a two-day capacity-building workshop for healthcare workers on the prevention and management of sexual assault cases, held in Alausa, Ikeja. She explained that survivors of sexual and domestic violence are fully covered for medical treatment, investigations, and follow-up care under the state’s Equity Fund for vulnerable groups.
The workshop, aimed at strengthening the state’s multi-sectoral response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), brought together healthcare personnel from public and private health facilities. Participants were equipped with essential skills to provide timely, professional, and empathetic care to survivors.
During her presentation, Mrs. Anyebe outlined LASHMA’s core responsibilities, including vetting hospital claims, coordinating emergency services, escalating cases to the Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA), and ensuring that survivors receive complete medical and financial protection. She noted that hospitals are responsible for providing first-line care, proper documentation, and referrals, while LASHMA ensures prompt reimbursement and oversight.
Declaring the workshop open, the Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folasade Oludara, highlighted the rising incidence of rape and defilement across Lagos communities, which necessitated the upskilling of healthcare workers—often the first point of contact for survivors. Represented by the Deputy Director of Child Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Onasanya, she emphasized that the training was designed to enhance the capacity of health workers to identify, document, and effectively manage sexual assault cases. She added that the training would further strengthen Lagos State’s coordinated health response to gender-based violence.
Dr. Onasanya also revealed that the state government had already supplied health facilities with essential equipment and specimen collection tools, noting that the ongoing training complemented these investments by improving the competence of personnel handling such sensitive cases.
The SGBV Programme Manager at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Juradat Aofiyebi, described the capacity-building initiative as a strategic effort to enhance survivor-centered healthcare delivery and strengthen prosecution outcomes. She stated that 25 experienced doctors from the state’s general hospitals participated in the workshop, noting that the initiative reflects the government’s unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable populations.
According to her, the training equips healthcare workers with the knowledge to properly identify survivors, accurately document clinical findings, and deliver comprehensive care—crucial steps in ensuring justice and preventing repeat violations. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s resolve to sustain such trainings so that every survivor who visits a Lagos State health facility receives quality, non-judgmental, and compassionate care.
