By Omolola Dede Adeyanju
The first lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Claudiana Sanwo-Olu has called out every resident of Lagos State to be Ambassadors of the LASHMA Ilera Eko Scheme and apply the same political strategy used in sensitizing majority to cast their votes at elections towards ensuring that more people are registered into the Ilera Eko health insurance scheme.
She made the call during the 2025 Ilera Eko day, themed “Eko Sha” and the unveiling of the Ilera Eko handbook held yesterday in Lagos state.
In her keynote speech, the first lady recounted that the Ilera Eko scheme had 50,000 enrollee in retrospect but has now increased to 1 million enrollee. However she stated that there is still a lot of work to be done owing to the over 22 million Lagosians who are yet to key into the scheme.
Dr claudiana who was decorated as the Ilera Eko icon at the “Eko Sha” branding also urged everyone present to make conscious efforts in reorienting the people in Lagos and Nigeria in extension on the health insurance scheme and its benefits. She therefore called on every civil servant, mosques, schools, politicians, other institutions and individuals to get involved as they are all expected to account for the number of people the good news spreads to.
Meanwhile, the 22nd Head of service, Lagos State, Mr Olabode Agoro examined the relevance of the Lagos State health and management agency, LASHMA in enforcing the ilera Eko scheme. In his evaluation, he expressed the Lagos State Governor’s prioritization of public servants’ health and Lagosians at large in such that the government covers 75% of the health insurance for public servants, pays for removal of fibroids, surgical operations amongst other health conditions.
Mr Olabode further disclosed that the 2020 pandemic which led to the origination of EkoTeleMed services by LASHMA has been upgraded. He encouraged retirees also to utilize the one year subscription service for a healthier lifespan. “Download the Ilera Eko TeleMed App for easy access to health insurance Services” he added.
However, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health matters, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi in her remarks stressed the origin of lashma ilera eco scheme in 2016 to reduce out of pocket spending on health. Dr. Ogunyemi identified the scheme as a “Beacon of hope for all, regardless of every individual background. The scheme has a flexible payment method” she said, as she urged all Lagos residents to take advantage of it as their rights, she also employed employers to make efforts to enroll their staffs into the scheme to further increase productivity in the labour force.
In his Special remark, the house committee chairman on health services, Hon. Musibau Aina Lawal noted that the event which is the 40th anniversary of ilera eko celebration has been of lifelong impacts. He commended and encouraged LASHMA for the progressive commitment towards the scheme. “Let us continue to grow a healthy Lagos together” he urged.
As several beneficiaries of the Ilera Eko scheme lauded the government for continuous support in ensuring free drugs and health services, another testifier of the Ilera Eko scheme identified as Fausat appealed to the Lagos state government to look into cases of Lupus diseases more as the condition is currently not being diagnosed in Nigeria.
Moreso, review of the benefits of the Ilera Eko scheme as highlighted by a specialist from the Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA reveals that the scheme permits free family planning services; free 15 days hospital admission; free drugs for enrollees which can be gotten from any registered pharmacy; free blood transfusions; free X-rays; medications for people with liver conditions, kidney, heart and other terminal illnesses; free Maternal and newborn support as well as the freedom to access medical specialists four times in a year.
