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By Doris Obinna
Lagos State has unveiled the LASHMA-AID Emergency Services Programme, a state-led initiative designed to ensure that residents are not denied life-saving medical care because of cost, delays or administrative hurdles.
The programme, launched on Thursday at Ikeja, institutionalises emergency medical stabilisation for insured and vulnerable residents under the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, ILERA EKO, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on Mandatory Social Health Insurance.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, described the initiative as a landmark step in Lagos State’s drive towards universal health coverage and responsive governance. She said the programme reflects the administration’s commitment to guaranteeing unhindered access to healthcare, noting that health remains a central pillar of the THEMES Plus Agenda.
Dr Ogunyemi said Lagos State has continued to strengthen its health system through investments in infrastructure, digital health platforms and emergency response mechanisms. She cited reforms such as the Smart Health Information Platform linking public health facilities, the expansion of 24-hour primary healthcare centres, upgrades of more than 27 primary health centres (PHCs) under the World Bank-supported IMPACT Programme, and the growth of functional PHCs to over 336 across the state.
She also noted that the state had reduced out-of-pocket spending through expanded health insurance coverage and strengthened protection for vulnerable residents by dedicating one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund as an equity fund, now increased to ₦3 billion annually and made a first-line charge.
According to her, LASHMA-AID directly addresses long-standing gaps in emergency care by providing a coordinated system that prioritises saving lives before financial or administrative checks. Emergency medical evacuation and response, she added, are delivered through the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), which has been strengthened with ambulance bikes and mobile intensive care unit ambulances. She disclosed that LASAMBUS responded to over 5,000 cases this year alone, with approval granted for additional recruitment of nurses and bike riders to boost rapid response capacity.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of the House Committee on Health, Hon. Musibau Aina Lawal, said the programme translates legislative intent into practical action by ensuring that emergency stabilisation takes precedence over enrolment verification or payment. He said the initiative aligns with the Health Scheme Law and the Governor’s Executive Order, adding that the preservation of life must always come first.
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Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Adebayo Adedewe, said the programme was developed from provisions of the Executive Order and refined through extensive stakeholder engagement with both empanelled and non-empanelled healthcare providers.
Dr Adedewe explained that LASHMA-AID covers up to 48 hours of in-facility emergency stabilisation for enrollees and vulnerable residents, supported by clear operational guidelines, provider handbooks and escalation pathways. He stressed that no emergency patient should be turned away, noting that the initiative integrates hospitals, ambulance operators and LASHMA’s coordination unit into a single response chain.
Speaking further, he urged residents not to hesitate to seek care in emergencies, assuring that LASHMA would bear the cost of stabilisation while patients are subsequently enrolled on the scheme. He said data-driven monitoring would track response times, utilisation and outcomes, with a target emergency activation response time of two to three minutes.
Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, said the programme closes a major gap that had previously discouraged private providers from participating in emergency care due to uncertainty around payment. She said both empanelled and non-empanelled facilities are now covered for emergency stabilisation, with LASHMA assuming responsibility for payment whether the patient is insured or identified as vulnerable.
Other speakers at the event included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Parastatal Monitoring Office, Hon. Ibrahim Obanikoro, who described the initiative as a move closer to global best practice, and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District II, Dr Dayo Lajide, who said the programme would significantly improve emergency referrals, particularly for obstetric and other critical cases.
Representing the Ministry of Information and Strategy, the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, pledged sustained public enlightenment to ensure widespread awareness and utilisation of the programme.
In his closing remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr Oluwatoni Adeyemi, said the success of LASHMA-AID would be measured by lives saved, faster response times and renewed public confidence, as Lagos positions itself as a model for organised emergency care in Nigeria.
