By Heapnews
Thousands of residents in Lagos State’s riverine and coastal communities could soon gain easier access to healthcare following a new partnership between development platform Blue Lagos and the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) to deploy telemedicine services across underserved areas.
The initiative aims to bridge longstanding healthcare access gaps affecting residents of 152 riverine and coastal settlements, where distance, transportation challenges and limited medical infrastructure often make it difficult for people to obtain timely medical care.
Under the proposed Telemedicine Scheme, residents will be able to consult healthcare professionals remotely, receive medical advice, obtain referrals and access follow-up care without travelling long distances to health facilities.
The partnership emerged from a strategic meeting between Blue Lagos, led by its Convener, Saheed Adesanya, and LASHMA’s management team headed by Permanent Secretary Emmanuella Zamba.
Speaking after the meeting, Adesanya said the collaboration represented a significant step towards improving the wellbeing of residents in hard-to-reach communities.
“Healthcare remains a fundamental need for every citizen,” he said. “Through technology-driven solutions, we can bridge existing gaps and bring healthcare closer to the people.”
For many residents living in Lagos’ island and waterfront communities, accessing healthcare can involve lengthy boat journeys and significant transportation costs, factors that often delay treatment and routine consultations.
LASHMA’s Permanent Secretary, Zamba, said the agency remained committed to expanding healthcare access and advancing universal health coverage across the state, particularly for vulnerable populations.
She said technology and strategic partnerships would play an important role in ensuring that essential healthcare services reach communities traditionally underserved by the health system.
Health experts have increasingly identified telemedicine as a potential solution for improving healthcare delivery in remote areas, particularly where shortages of healthcare personnel and infrastructure persist.
According to the partners, the scheme is expected to improve health outcomes by reducing barriers to medical consultations, encouraging preventive healthcare and increasing access to professional medical support for thousands of residents across Lagos State’s coastal settlements.
Both organisations said they would continue consultations on implementation plans, community awareness campaigns and stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful rollout and long-term sustainability of the programme.
The initiative aligns with Lagos State’s broader efforts to promote inclusive development and improve access to essential services for residents regardless of location, while supporting the state’s growing focus on developing its blue economy.
Blue Lagos is a development-focused platform that works with government agencies, private sector organisations and community stakeholders to promote sustainable growth and improve living conditions in Lagos’ riverine and coastal communities.