By Admin
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has strengthened its push to expand healthcare access with the opening of a new Ilera Eko office in Surulere, a move aimed at bringing health insurance services closer to residents as the state advances towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Located within the premises of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the new one-stop centre will enable residents to register for the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme, update their records, change healthcare providers, resolve complaints and access other services without travelling long distances.
Commissioning the facility, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the office as another milestone in the agency's efforts to make affordable, quality and equitable healthcare more accessible at the grassroots. She said the centre would widen access to social health insurance while supporting Lagos State's goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage.
Zamba noted that since LASHMA became fully operational in 2020, the agency has consistently expanded access to healthcare through innovations aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening public confidence in the state's health insurance scheme.
Among the initiatives introduced are Ilera N' Tiwa Cooperative, IIlera Easy Pay, the Ilera Eko Telemedicine Service, the Ilera Ibile community engagement programme and LASHMA Assistance in Distress (LASHMA-AID), the agency's emergency response initiative.
She added that LASHMA has expanded its presence across the state with divisional offices in each of the five IBILE divisions, supported by 40 Ilera Eko kiosks and community mobilisation teams working across Lagos.
Zamba also reminded residents that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's Executive Order of July 16, 2024, made social health insurance mandatory for every Lagos resident. She said the state government remains committed to ensuring that no resident is denied access to quality healthcare because of financial hardship.
She called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, market associations, transport unions, artisans and other community stakeholders to step up awareness campaigns and encourage households within their communities to enrol in the Ilera Eko scheme.
"This office is more than a physical structure, it is a symbol of hope, accessibility, partnership and progress for the people of Lagos," Zamba said.
Community leaders at the event welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major step towards improving access to affordable healthcare in Surulere.
Representing the Oba of Ikate, Oba Lateef Atanda Adams, the Lisa of Ikate, Chief Suab Olayemi, commended the Lagos State Government for expanding social health insurance and urged residents to make full use of the new office.
He said health insurance is now an essential safeguard against the rising cost of medical care and pledged the support of the traditional institution in mobilising residents to enrol in the scheme.
The Bashorun of Ojora and Iganmu Kingdom, Chief Hakeem Ojora, also hailed the initiative, saying it would ease the challenges many residents face in accessing affordable healthcare.
Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Surulere Constituency I, Wemimo Odumosu, described the new office as a timely intervention that would strengthen healthcare delivery across the local government and local council development areas in Surulere.
He pledged that Community Development Associations would work closely with LASHMA to boost public awareness and drive enrolment, adding that he would be the first resident to register at the new office.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Farmers Association in Coker-Aguda LCDA, Mr. Adebowale Dawodu, who was honoured by LASHMA as an Ilera Eko Champion for his contributions to promoting the scheme, pledged to mobilise more farmers to enrol in the state's health insurance programme.
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