The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), in collaboration with Health District V and the DIDE Foundation, has launched a two-day EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) community outreach in Badagry Division to expand access to quality and equitable healthcare for vulnerable residents.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Posukoh Ward, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme, popularly known as ILERA EKO, is now mandatory for all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Dr. Zamba highlighted the benefits of the scheme, including registration, medical consultations, treatment of common ailments such as malaria and cough, management of chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, maternal healthcare services including normal delivery and caesarean section, treatment of childhood illnesses, emergency care, surgeries and access to essential medicines.
She commended the Possu of Badagry Kingdom and Osewekan Bana I of Badagry Kingdom, Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko, for supporting the initiative and hosting the flag-off in his community.
She explained that the EKOSHA community outreach was designed to take health insurance directly to vulnerable residents and enrol them on the ILERA EKO scheme free of charge for one year.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has dedicated one per cent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as an Equity Fund to finance the enrolment of vulnerable residents. She also praised the governor for increasing the Equity Fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to expand healthcare coverage.
Dr. Zamba urged beneficiaries to make use of their designated healthcare facilities whenever they fall ill instead of resorting to self-medication, encouraging enrollees experiencing challenges at hospitals or community pharmacies to contact LASHMA through its 24-hour customer service channels for assistance.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Health District V, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, said the outreach would provide residents with free health insurance enrolment, childhood immunisation, vital health checks, eye and tuberculosis screening, as well as dental care, urging residents to participate fully in the exercise and adhere to prescribed treatments.
The Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, commended the Lagos State Government for extending healthcare services to riverine communities.
He revealed that a boat had been donated to the Ojogun riverine community to ease transportation to healthcare facilities, adding that two additional boats would also be provided.
Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko described the initiative as timely, noting that the high cost of healthcare has made hospital visits difficult for many residents.
He said the free health insurance programme would improve access to medical care and affirmed that ILERA EKO is effective, having personally benefited from the scheme.
The Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Posukoh, Elder Hungbo Mayomi, also applauded LASHMA for providing one-year free health insurance coverage to vulnerable residents and urged beneficiaries to prioritise their health.
LASHMA said the EKOSHA outreach has so far enrolled vulnerable residents in six of the 10 wards in Badagry, including the riverine Ojogun community in Olorunda LCDA.
The exercise has covered Jegba Quarters, Posukoh, Ajara Topa, Ajido, Ikoga and Togo Idale, with enrolment set to continue in the remaining wards. Secondary school students in the participating communities also received free WAEC registration forms through the support of the DIDE Foundation.
