L- R: The Baale, Obele-Odan, Chief Shittu Ademola Onimole, Bashorun of Ojora and Iganmu Kingdom, Chief Hakeem Ojora, representative of HRM, the Oba of Ikate/ Lisa Ikate, Surulere, Chief Suab Olayemi, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, CDC, Chairman, Surulere Constituency, Hon. Wemimo Odumosu and Baale, Tejuosho, Chief Sheriff Balogun, during the commissioning of ILERA EKO Surulere Office in Lagos.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has been commended for commissioning its new ILERA EKO Surulere Office as part of its ongoing efforts to bring affordable, quality and equitable healthcare services closer to residents at the grassroots.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the establishment of the ILERA EKO Surulere office as another significant milestone in the Agency’s commitment to expand access to social health insurance and achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the State.
According to her, the one-stop center office, located within the premises of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Surulere, is a strategic intervention aimed at ensuring that residents can conveniently register, enroll, update their records, resolve complaints, change hospitals, commend LASHMA and access other ILERA EKO services without travelling long distances.
Dr. Zamba noted that since the full take off of the Agency in Year 2020, LASHMA has remained committed to expanding access to healthcare, improving service delivery, introducing various innovations which could build trust and transform health insurance in the State.
Some of the innovations, according to her, included the introduction of the various health insurance plans, ILERA N’ TIWA Cooperative, ILERA EASY PAY, ILERA EKO Telemedicine Service, ILERA EKO, ILERA IBILE community engagement and LASHMA Assistance in Distress (LASHMA-AID) which handles emergency services.
Dr. Zamba said that to deepen grassroots presence, the Agency, aside from operating Divisional Office in each of the IBILE Division in the State, also has 40 ILERA EKO kiosks as well as foot soldiers spread across the State.
The Permanent Secretary further reiterated that the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on 16th July, 2024, has made social health insurance mandatory for every resident of Lagos State, adding that the State Government remains committed towards ensuring that no resident is denied access to quality healthcare services due to huge medical bills or financial problems.
She called on traditional rulers, religious, community leaders, market associations, transport unions, artisans and other stakeholders in attendance, to spread the good news of ILERA EKO to everyone in their communities as well as ensure that every household enroll on the Scheme.
The Permanent Secretary assured residents that the office is more than a physical structure, rather it is a symbol of hope, accessibility, partnership and progress.
In his goodwill message, HRM, the Oba of Ikate, Oba Lateef Atanda Adams, represented by the Lisa of Ikate, Chief Suab Olayemi, applauded the Lagos State Government for its unwavering commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Lagos residents through innovative social health insurance.
HRM urged community members to take advantage of the newly commissioned office and register enmass on the ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance Plan. He emphasized that health insurance is no longer optional but an important mechanism to safeguard residents against increasing cost of healthcare and out-of-pocket payment.
Oba Adams pledged that the traditional institution will support LASHMA in sensitising residents within the communities on the importance of enrolling on ILERA EKO and that no family is exposed to financial hardship due to illness.
The Bashorun of Ojora and Iganmu Kingdom, Chief Hakeem Ojora, in his remarks, also commended LASHMA for bringing ILERA EKO closer to the people of Surulere. He described the commissioning, as a welcome development that would improve access to affordable healthcare and reduce the burden which many residents face while seeking healthcare services.
Chief Ojora assured the Agency of the continuous support of his office to mobilise residents within its localities to embrace ILERA EKO Social Health Insurance.
The Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Surulere Constituency I, Hon. Wemimo Odumosu, described the establishment of the office as a timely intervention that would strengthen healthcare delivery within the Local Government Area/Local Council Development Areas in Surulere.
He noted that community development associations (CDC) remain critical partners in grassroots mobilisation. Hon. Odumosu who pledged to be the first person to enroll in the new office, assured the Agency that the CDC would work closely with LASHMA to create awareness and encourage enrollment.
The Chairman, Farmers Association, Coker-Aguda LCDA, Mr. Adebowale Dawodu, who was announced as ILERA EKO Champion, by the Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, for its previous roles in promoting ILERA EKO, promised to see that other farmers not yet enrolled, would come on board soon.