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By Doris Obinna
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 provide free health insurance and essential healthcare services for vulnerable residents.
Flagging off the exercise at Posukoh Ward, Permanent Secretary, LASHMA,
Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the initiative was designed to take healthcare closer to underserved communities by enrolling vulnerable residents into the Lagos State health insurance scheme, ILERA EKO, free of charge for one year.
She reiterated that ILERA EKO is now mandatory for all Lagos residents, regardless of socio-economic status, and provides access to consultations, treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, management of chronic conditions including hypertension and diabetes, maternal care, emergency services, surgeries and essential medicines.
Zamba said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had demonstrated commitment to universal health coverage by dedicating one per cent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund to the Equity Fund for vulnerable residents and increasing the fund from N1 billion to N3 billion.
She urged beneficiaries to seek care at accredited hospitals whenever they are ill instead of self-medicating and encouraged them to report any service-related challenges through LASHMA’s customer support channels.
Permanent Secretary, Health District V, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, said residents would also benefit from free childhood immunisation, tuberculosis and eye screening, dental care and routine health checks during the outreach.
Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Chairman, Hon. Ajose Kumayon, commended the state government for extending healthcare to riverine communities, revealing that a boat had been provided to transport residents of Ojogun community to health facilities, with two additional boats expected.
The Possu of Badagry Kingdom, Mr. Sulaimon Iroko, described the programme as a major relief for low-income families, saying he had personally benefited from ILERA EKO and could attest to its effectiveness.
LASHMA said EKOSHA has so far enrolled vulnerable residents in six of Badagry’s 10 wards, with enrollment continuing in the remaining communities. As part of the outreach, the DIDE Foundation also distributed free WAEC registration forms to secondary school students.
