The Lagos State Government has intensified its drive towards universal healthcare by enrolling vulnerable residents across communities in Badagry Division on its social health insurance scheme, ILERA EKO, while the DIDE Foundation distributed free West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) registration forms to secondary school students.
The enrolment exercise, carried out under the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) Community Storm initiative, is a collaboration between the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Health District V and the DIDE Foundation aimed at extending quality and affordable healthcare services to underserved communities.
Flagging off the two-day outreach at Posukoh Ward, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the initiative was designed to ensure that vulnerable residents are enrolled on the ILERA EKO health insurance scheme free of charge for one year.
She explained that the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Programme is now mandatory for all residents, irrespective of their socio-economic status, stressing that the government remains committed to ensuring equitable access to healthcare for every Lagosian.
According to her, beneficiaries of ILERA EKO enjoy comprehensive healthcare services, including registration, medical consultations, treatment for common ailments such as malaria and cough, management of chronic illnesses including hypertension and diabetes, maternal healthcare services, emergency care, surgeries, childhood healthcare and access to prescribed medicines.
Zamba commended the Possu of Badagry Kingdom and Osewekan Bana I of Badagry Kingdom, Chief Sulaimon Sewanu Iroko, for supporting the take-off of the programme in the community.
She disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had dedicated one per cent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund as an Equity Fund to provide health insurance coverage for vulnerable residents, adding that the Governor recently increased the fund from N1 billion to N3 billion to expand access to healthcare.
The Permanent Secretary urged beneficiaries to take advantage of their health insurance by visiting accredited healthcare facilities whenever they are ill instead of resorting to self-medication.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Health District V, Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, said residents participating in the EKOSHA Community Storm would benefit from free health insurance enrolment, childhood immunisation, vital signs checks, tuberculosis screening, eye examinations and dental care.
He encouraged residents to embrace the opportunity by undergoing medical screening and adhering to prescribed treatments, noting that good health remains the foundation for productive living.
The Executive Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Peter Kumayon, praised the Lagos State Government for extending the healthcare intervention to riverine communities.
Kumayon disclosed that a boat had been donated to residents of the Ojogun riverine community to facilitate transportation across the waterways and improve access to healthcare facilities, adding that two additional boats would soon be provided.
In his remarks, Chief Iroko described the initiative as timely, saying access to healthcare remains a major financial burden for many families.
He affirmed that ILERA EKO was genuine and effective, noting that he had personally benefited from the scheme. He therefore urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity provided by the Lagos State Government.
Similarly, the Chairman of Posukoh Community Development Association (CDA), Elder Hungbo Mayomi, lauded LASHMA for providing one-year free health insurance coverage to residents and appealed to beneficiaries to prioritise their health by making good use of the programme.
Officials disclosed that the EKOSHA Community Storm has so far enrolled vulnerable residents in six of the ten wards in Badagry Division, including the riverine Ojogun community in Olorunda LCDA. The outreach has covered Jegba Quarters, Posukoh, Ajara Topa, Ajido, Ikoga and Togo Idale, while enrolment in the remaining wards will continue in the coming weeks.
Beyond healthcare, the intervention also supported education as the DIDE Foundation presented free WASSCE registration forms to eligible secondary school students in the beneficiary communities, providing financial relief to families and encouraging increased access to education.