In a bid to ensure that all the residents of Lagos State have access to affordable healthcare, Lagos State Government has sensitized grassroots resident on the enrolment of the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, Ilera Eko.

Following up on the state Government’s THEMES Agenda which Healthcare happens to be the Second Pillar, Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu’s administration is focused on ensuring that all the residents of Lagos State have access to quality, equitable and affordable healthcare regardless of their socio cultural and economic status.

Speaking at the sensitization programme which took place at the Agege Local Government Area on the 10th of November 2021, Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale disclosed that the sensitization programme in collaboration with Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and the Office of Civic Engagement on Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (Ilera Eko) in the 20 Local Government Areas of the State.

She added that the programme is aimed at promoting Ilera Eko Health plan and also scaling up the grassroots enrolment of Lagos residents on the Scheme.

“All around the globe, health remains on the priority list of every government at all levels and therefore our dear State cannot afford to be an exception Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is focused on ensuring that all the residents of Lagos State, have access to quality, equitable and affordable healthcare regardless of their socio-cultural and economic status, towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in our State.

“This has necessitated the government to embark on the building and renewal of health facilities all around the State and the continuous initiation and promotion of various intervention programmes which include the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme also known as ‘ILERA EKO’. This sensitization, we are starting today would go to all the 20 LGAs to encourage more people especially at the grassroots to embrace the insurance policy facilitated by this administration.

“The intention is to deliver this Lagos State health insurance scheme to the citizens and for the people to own the programme with a view to making it resoundingly successful. The Office of Civic Engagement as part of its mandates to interface between the Government and the citizens of Lagos State is therefore in collaboration with LASHMA, the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the scheme in organising this sensitisation drive”, she said.

Even though the latest World Health Organisation survey ranks Nigeria’s healthcare system as the fourth worst in the world, Lagos state appears to hold the baton to greatness with its healthcare scheme, “Ilera Eko”.