… Urges Enrollees To Take Advantage of 24/7 Telemedicine Services
Dignitaries at the media parley.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, Emergency Service Programme, LASHMA-AID, has saved 18 lives since it commenced in March 2026, with most beneficiaries from the vulnerable population.
Narrating their experiences of how LASHMA-AID saved their lives without knowing them before, Mrs Bilikis Hassan, Mrs Jumoke Kayode and Esther Ogundiran expressed their gratitude to Lagos State government through LASHMA for saving their lives.
“I woke up in the hospital to learn that I collapsed and was rushed to the hospital unconscious because of severe anemia, people around called LASHMA number and I was attended to free. Am indeed grateful for this great opportunity of having LASHMA in Lagos.” Mrs Kayode narrated.
“If not for LASHMA, I don’t what would have become the fate of me and my son, Fatai Hassan. We cannot afford to seek for hospital treatment but LASHMA-AID came to our rescue and my family is enjoying all-expenses paid treatments in Lagoa now. We appreciate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and LASHMA management for the good works they are doing.” Mrs Hassan told Journalists in Yoruba language.
Some of the LASHMA-AID beneficiaries.
Esther Ogundiran also had a life-threatening case. She is an underage who had eclampsia in pregnancy and required surgery.
Eclampsia is seizures that occur in pregnant women with symptoms of high blood pressure, headaches, blurry vision and convulsions. She was rescued, treated and surgery was done successfully to save mother and child free of charge.
Furthermore, Lagos residents have been urged to take advantage of the 24/7 ILERA EKO Telemedicine Service by dialing 080-000-EKO-VBT or using the ILERA EKO app for free consultations in Yoruba, English, Igbo, Hausa or Pidgin.
The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, also made it known that the agency had done free one-year registration for 72 health journalists and their families.
“ILERA EKO is now mandatory for all residents. It provides peace of mind and reduces catastrophic healthcare expenditure whenever medical issues arise.”
She made this known on Thursday at the agency’s Y2026 Quarterly Media Parley at LASHMA headquarters in Lagos. She made it known that the LASHMA-AID programme was launched in December 2025 in line with the Executive Order on Mandatory Social Health Insurance.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Olarenwaju Bajulaiye, reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to ensuring that all residents have access to quality healthcare through the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme.Bajulaiye said the state government remains focused on expanding health protection coverage and urged residents to take advantage of the compulsory health insurance policy to secure themselves and their families against unforeseen health challenges.He called on Lagos residents to embrace the scheme and support ongoing efforts aimed at achieving universal health coverage across the state, noting that access to affordable and quality healthcare is a critical component of the government’s development agenda.Meanwhile, the LASHMA Scorecard presented at the parley shows that utilization of ILERA EKO services is rising, with 11,569 malaria parasite tests conducted, 661 telemedicine calls handled and 1,320 virtual booth visits recorded. The agency stated that the figures show coverage is now translating into real access to care as more enrollees actively use services, an indicator of trust and relevance.
Dr. Zamba also announced that LASHMA will introduce new policy changes from 1st of August, 2026 to protect the sustainability of the ILERA EKO scheme and shield vulnerable residents who cannot afford premiums or the Pay-Small-Small option. She noted that some residents only enroll a few months before needing costly treatment, then drop out, a practice she described as unhealthy for the Lagos State Health Scheme.
The Permanent Secretary added that enforcement of mandatory health insurance has moved to the grassroots after MDAs compliance began in February 2026. She said LASHMA has launched the EKO Health Alliance Rural Health Scheme in Agboyi-Ketu LCDA to serve underserved communities through a Mobile Health Van, and a new riverine partnership is underway.
LASHMA is also training local many officials at the local governments and LCDAs who will be local ambassadors of ILERA-EKO Health Insurance Scheme.