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 Storm in Badagry Division to expand access to quality healthcare and enrol vulnerable residents into the State’s health insurance scheme.
Flagging off the initiative at Posukoh Ward, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, reiterated that the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme, popularly known as ILERA EKO, is now mandatory for all residents, regardless of their socio-economic status.
She explained that the scheme provides access to a wide range of healthcare services, including consultations, treatment for common illnesses such as malaria, management of chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes, maternal healthcare services including normal delivery and caesarean section, emergency care, surgeries, childhood healthcare and pharmaceutical services.
Dr. Zamba said the EKOSHA Community Storm was specifically designed to bring health insurance closer to vulnerable communities by enrolling eligible residents into the ILERA EKO Scheme free of charge for one year.
She commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for sustaining the Equity Fund through the allocation of one per cent of the State’s Consolidated Revenue Fund for the enrolment of vulnerable residents, noting that the fund had been increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to expand access to healthcare.
The Permanent Secretary urged beneficiaries to take advantage of the health insurance by visiting accredited healthcare facilities whenever they are ill instead of resorting to self-medication.
She also encouraged enrollees experiencing challenges at hospitals or community pharmacies to contact LASHMA through its 24-hour customer service channels for prompt assistance.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of Health District V, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, said residents participating in the community outreach would benefit from free child immunisation, vital signs checks, eye screening, tuberculosis screening, dental care and health insurance enrolment.
He called on residents to participate actively in the exercise, emphasising that early diagnosis and prompt treatment remain critical to healthy living.
The Executive Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, applauded the Lagos State Government for extending quality healthcare interventions to riverine communities.
He disclosed that a boat had been donated to facilitate the transportation of residents in the Ojogun riverine community to their chosen healthcare facilities, adding that two additional boats would be provided to further improve access to medical services.
Also speaking, the Possu of Badagry Kingdom and Osewekan Bana I, Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko, praised the state government for selecting Badagry as the starting point of the EKOSHA Community Storm.
Describing the initiative as timely, he noted that healthcare costs remain beyond the reach of many residents and affirmed that the free health insurance programme would significantly improve access to quality healthcare for vulnerable members of the community.
Chief Iroko, who said he had personally benefited from the ILERA EKO Scheme, urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunity provided by the government.
The Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Posukoh, Elder Hungbo Mayomi, also commended LASHMA for extending one-year free health insurance coverage to vulnerable residents and encouraged beneficiaries to prioritise their health and wellbeing.
As part of the ongoing outreach, EKOSHA has so far enrolled vulnerable residents in six of the ten wards in Badagry, including the riverine Ojogun community in Olorunda LCDA. The enrolled communities include Jegba Quarters, Posukoh, Ajara Topa, Ajido, Ikoga and Togo Idale, while enrolment in the remaining wards will continue.
The outreach also featured the distribution of free WAEC examination forms to secondary school students in the participating communities through the support of the DIDE Foundation.
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