By Joseph Edegbo :
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), in its determination to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and increase in enrolment on “Ilera Eko’ Health Insurance Scheme, has collaborated with the Office of Civic Engagement for Statewide sensitisation of the grassroots.
The Special Adviser, Office of Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, at a media briefing held on Wednesday at the Bagauda Khalto Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, said the collaboration aims to promote the Ilera Eko health plan and scale-up enrolment of Lagos residents on the Scheme.
Princess Adebowale, represented at the briefing by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Civic Engagement, Mr. Kayode Ogunnubi, said that Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is passionate about ensuring that residents are in good health and also have access to affordable, quality and efficient healthcare, irrespective of their socio-economic differences.
While noting that the initiative is in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the Lagos State Government, she stated that Mr. Governor has not only intensified investment in infrastructure development in the health sector but also in human capital.
Her words: “Government has embarked on the building and renewal of health facilities in the State and the continuous initiation and promotion of various intervention programmes such as the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) and Ilera Eko Health Plan”.
According to Princess Adebowale, health insurance is new in Nigeria but the journey of health insurance in Lagos State started in 2015 with the signing of the Lagos State Health Scheme into Law while access to healthcare commenced in 2020.
The Special Adviser said that the planned sensitisation in all the LGAs and LCDAs would no doubt encourage more people at the grassroots to key into the Ilera Eko Health plan and increase enrolment.
The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said that the Agency partnered with the Office of Civic Engagement to spread the good news of Ilera Eko to the grassroots, whose residents are primary targets of the health scheme.
She restated that with N8,500 annually an individual can enjoy the benefit of Ilera Eko, while with N40,000 annually, a family of six consisting of the father, mother and four children below 18 years can also enjoy the health plan.
Dr. Zamba noted that considering the economic situation in the country, the Agency has designed a flexible monthly payment plan known – “Ilera Eko Pay Small Small” – to enable more residents, especially people at the grassroots have access to affordable healthcare.
Explaining that with the Pay Small Small payment plan an individual can have access to healthcare with a premium of N1,000 monthly, the LASHMA boss stated that a family enrollee can enjoy the same benefit with a monthly premium of N3,500.
The General Manager said that LASHMA has divisional offices across five divisions of Lagos to boost enrolment of residents on Ilera Eko, adding that Ilera Eko kiosks have also been mounted at strategic locations in the State.
She, therefore, implored residents of the state to utilise the opportunity of the statewide sensitisation exercise and enrol on Ilera Eko as the health plan covers about 80 per cent of ailments that the residents seek to treat.
Informing that the enrolment on Ilera Eko would reduce payment of medical bills out of pocket, Dr. Zamba implored enrollees or interested residents to call LASHMA customer care line 0700-ILERA EKO (0700-45372356) or send messages to LASHMA WhatsApp on 07045358275 for all enquiries.
