L -R: The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba paying a courtesy visit on the Possu and Osewekan Bana 1 of Badagry Kingdom, Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko, in his palace during the flag-off of EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) Community Storm, held at Posukoh, Badagry
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has launched a two-day EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) Community Storm in Badagry Division to expand access to quality healthcare for vulnerable residents through the State’s social health insurance scheme, ILERA EKO.
The initiative, organised in collaboration with Health District V and the DIDE Foundation, commenced at Posukoh Ward in Badagry.
Speaking at the flag-off, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Programme, popularly known as ILERA EKO, is now mandatory for all residents of the state, regardless of their socio-economic status.
Dr. Zamba explained that enrollees under the scheme are entitled to a wide range of healthcare services, including registration, medical consultations, treatment for common ailments such as malaria and cough, management of chronic diseases like hypertension and diabetes, maternal healthcare, including caesarean section and normal delivery, emergency care, surgeries, childhood illness treatment and pharmaceutical services.
She commended the Possu of Badagry Kingdom and Osewekan Bana I of Badagry Kingdom, Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko, for supporting the commencement of the programme in the community.
According to her, the EKOSHA Community Storm was designed to take health insurance directly to vulnerable residents and enrol them free of charge for one year.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had committed one per cent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as an Equity Fund to finance health insurance for vulnerable residents. She also applauded the governor for increasing the fund from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to expand coverage across the state.
Dr. Zamba urged beneficiaries to make use of healthcare facilities whenever they fall ill instead of resorting to self-medication. She also advised enrollees experiencing any challenges at hospitals or community pharmacies to contact LASHMA through its 24-hour customer service channels for prompt assistance.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Health District V, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, said residents participating in the community outreach would benefit from free health insurance enrolment, immunisation for children, vital checks, eye screening, tuberculosis screening and dental care.
He encouraged residents to take advantage of the services and adhere to prescribed treatments.The Executive Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area, Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, praised the Lagos State Government for extending healthcare interventions to riverine communities.
He disclosed that a boat had been donated to residents of Ojogun community to improve access to healthcare facilities, adding that two additional boats would be provided.Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko described the initiative as timely, noting that the high cost of healthcare has made hospital treatment difficult for many residents.
He affirmed that ILERA EKO is effective, having personally benefited from the scheme, and urged beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity provided by the state government.LASHMA said the EKOSHA initiative has so far enrolled vulnerable residents in six of the ten wards in Badagry, including the riverine community of Ojogun in Olorunda LCDA.
The wards covered include Jegba Quarters, Posukoh, Ajara Topa, Ajido, Ikoga and Togo Idale, while enrolment in the remaining wards will continue.
The agency added that free WAEC registration forms were also distributed to secondary school students in the communities through the support of the DIDE Foundation.