Lagos unveils healthcare insurance scheme for indigent, vulnerable residents

The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has launched a social health insurance scheme for indigent residents in the state.

Tagged ‘EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA)’, the scheme aims to ensure the provision and accessibility of quality healthcare services to the vulnerable and indigent.

The event was held on Wednesday at an event centre at Providence Hotel in Ikeja.

EKOSHA is the domestic resource mobilisation arm of LASHMA, designated to raise additional funds through multiple sources to pay premiums for vulnerable residents to complement the state government’s efforts for sustainable coverage.

Speaking at the event, Emmanuella Zamba, general manager of LASHMA, said the initiative is to ensure everyone has access to basic healthcare services that are of high quality and affordable.

She said LASHMA has been able to enroll over 230,000 vulnerable and indigents in the scheme.

“To ensure that equal opportunity is given to those who cannot afford to pay ILERA EKO premium and in line with section 20 of the LSHS law, which indicates that the agency should ensure the availability of alternative sources of funding to the health sector for improved services, the agency established EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) to care for the health insurance premium of the vulnerable and indigents in our midst,” she said.

“This, of course, will go a long way in making life meaningful to the vulnerable and indigents in our society.

“Our targets, of course, include vulnerable/indigent persons as defined in the LSHS Law; members of the Lagos state social register (LSSR); vulnerable persons living with special conditions such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell anaemia, and lupus; victims of sexual and domestic violence; teen moms; the destitute; persons in orphanages and elderly homes, as well as other vulnerable groups as determined by the agency.”

She added that the vulnerable are identified through a rapid poverty assessment tool that will confirm if such persons can pay or not.

She thanked Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor, his wife, and donors for their contribution to the scheme.

Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner for health, described the scheme as a laudable initiative, adding that the objectives of EKOSHA will improve the health indices of Lagos.

“Since the commencement of access to care for the vulnerable 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/organisations, to provide health insurance for the vulnerable residents of the state,” Abayomi said.

“This group of people is spread across the 57 LGA/LCDAs of the state, including members of elderly and orphanage homes; vulnerable persons living with HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, sickle cell anemia, and also victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“EKOSHA will collaborate with social welfare and empowerment MDAs/ organisations to provide a means of livelihood for these beneficiaries, such that they do not remain dependent and can eventually afford to pay health insurance premiums for themselves.”

On his part, Ayo Adebusoye, board member of LASHMA, said it is the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure that the vulnerable also enjoy the dividends of democracy without having to run helter-skelter for funds to pay medical bills.

Also speaking, Njide Ndili, country director of PharmAccess Foundation, said she is proud of the work LASHMA has done.

“We are of the belief that when you strengthen a health care system, especially for those who cannot afford to pay, you will have to do it in such a way that it is sustainable,” she said.

“Because of the leadership of Lagos, quite a number of other states have started replicating what is happening in Lagos.”

She urged well-meaning individuals to support the initiative, adding that the foundation will also contribute to the project.