Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programmes in the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Funmilayo Shokunbi
Eko Hot Blog reports that no fewer than 230,000 indigent and vulnerable residents of Lagos State are currently benefitting from free health insurance coverage sponsored by the State Government through the Eko Social Health Alliance (EkoSHA).
According to a statement on the government’s website, the beneficiaries include members of elderly and orphanage homes, vulnerable persons living with HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Sickle cell Anaemia, and victims of domestic and sexual violence spread across the 57 local government and local council development areas.
Speaking at the media launch of the Eko Social Health Alliance (EkoSHA) held at the Providence Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi explained that EkoSHA, an initiative of the Lagos State State Government coordinated through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), is an alliance of private institutions, public institutions, development and multilateral partners and individuals seeking the good of all residents of Lagos.
“The initiative is designed to mobilise adequate funds to help the identified vulnerable residents of Lagos State to access health insurance through the Ilera Eko Social Health Plan under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS). EkoSHA will also provide access to social welfare empowerment programmes so that beneficiaries do not only have health insurance but are provided opportunity and support that will gradually lift them out of poverty,” he said.
Abayomi, who was represented by the Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programmes in the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Funmilayo Shokunbi further explained that the alliance will also collaborate with different departments and agencies engaged in social welfare empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes.
The commissioner noted that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu graciously approved 1% of the State’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as an equity fund to pay for residents who cannot afford to pay health insurance for themselves in order to ensure that residents, including its vulnerable population, have access to the state health scheme.
He disclosed that since the commencement of access to care for the vulnerable residents on the ILERA EKO Social Health Plan in 2020, a total of N750 million has been disbursed as equity fund in addition to the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), and sponsorships from a few individuals and organisations to provide health insurance for the vulnerable residents of the State.
Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, who was represented by the Director, Diseases Control, Dr. Rotimi Agbolagorite noted that the objective of the EkoSHA initiative is anchored on mobilising additional funds to provide more funding options for the health care of the vulnerable residents of Lagos.
According to him, other objectives of the initiative include urging funding partners and facilitators like banks, local and international donor agencies, corporate bodies, religious organisations, NGOs and high networth individuals to register for the adoption of vulnerable residents by paying premiums for their healthcare coverage and providing a social safety net for beneficiaries through access to the state’s numerous empowerment programmes.
Ogboye explained further that the initiative targets the vulnerable and indigent persons as defined by in the LSHS Law which includes members of the Lagos State Social Register (LSSR); vulnerable persons living with special conditions such as Tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, Sickle Cell Anemia and Lupus; victims of sexual and domestic violence, teen moms, members of Destitute, Orphanage and Elderly Homes as well as other vulnerable groups as determined by LASHMA.
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