State launches two-day outreach offering health coverage, screenings and immunisation as mandatory insurance drive gathers pace
By Bunmi Yekini
The Lagos State Government has launched a two-day community outreach in Badagry to enrol vulnerable residents into its public health insurance scheme free of charge for one year, as it steps up efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), in partnership with Health District V and the DIDE Foundation, kicked off the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) community storm across communities in the division, offering free health insurance registration, medical screenings and other healthcare services.
Speaking at the launch in Posukoh Ward, LASHMA Permanent Secretary Emmanuella Zamba said the state’s social health insurance programme, ILERA EKO, is now mandatory for all Lagos residents regardless of their income.
She said beneficiaries would have access to consultations, treatment for common illnesses including malaria, management of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes, maternal healthcare, emergency services, surgeries and pharmaceutical care.
Zamba said Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earmarked 1% of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund as an equity fund to finance health insurance for vulnerable residents and recently increased the fund from 1 billion naira to 3 billion naira.
She urged newly enrolled residents to seek care at accredited hospitals rather than rely on self-medication.
Health District V Permanent Secretary Oladapo Ashiyanbi said the outreach would also provide childhood immunisation, tuberculosis and eye screening, dental services and routine health checks.
“The residents should come out, get screened and take prescribed medications because health is wealth,” he said.
Olorunda Local Council Development Area Chairman Ajose Peter Kumayon said the state had donated a boat to improve access to healthcare for residents of the riverine Ojogun community, adding that two more boats would be provided.
Traditional ruler and Possu of Badagry Kingdom, Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko, welcomed the initiative, saying free health insurance would ease the burden of medical costs on vulnerable households.
He urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the programme, saying he had personally benefited from the ILERA EKO scheme.
LASHMA said residents had so far been enrolled in six of Badagry’s 10 wards, including the riverine Ojogun community, with registration continuing in the remaining wards.
The outreach also included the distribution of free West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration forms to secondary school students through the DIDE Foundation.