Lagos unveils Ilera Eko Cooperatives to expand health insurance coverage
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), has launched a new initiative, Ilera Eko Cooperatives, under the state health insurance scheme. This initiative aims to provide healthcare coverage for indigent residents.
Ilera Eko is a health insurance scheme designed for all residents, regardless of status, class, ethnicity, or gender.
Speaking at a media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, announced that the scheme will be officially launched next week.
She explained, “Our goal is to keep Ilera Eko at the forefront of public consciousness and ensure more Lagosians enroll in the scheme. Today, we are excited to share some major initiatives that will drive health insurance uptake across the state.”
Key Initiatives:
- Ilera N Tiwa Cooperative: A strategic initiative aimed at integrating the informal sector by offering flexible payment options for artisans, traders, and low-income earners.
- Ilera Eko Academy: A program designed to expand the scheme’s sales force, ensuring that more residents are educated on the benefits of enrolling. It will also train Ilera Eko providers to serve as enrollment points.
- Quality and Provider Incentivization: Enhancing service quality and supporting healthcare providers to improve accessibility and efficiency.
Dr. Zamba reiterated that Ilera Eko is mandatory for all Lagos residents, and registration has been made easy. She said, “You can register at our head office (Good Shepherd House, opposite Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja), our divisional and sub-divisional offices, designated kiosks across the state, or any community pharmacy or provider under the Ilera Eko Scheme.”
She urged stakeholders, including journalists, to promote awareness and dispel misconceptions about health insurance, emphasizing that collective efforts will help achieve universal health coverage in Lagos.
LASHMA was established by Act No. 14 of May 25, 2015, and registered in Lagos State Official Gazette No. 32, Vol. 48, dated June 5, 2015. The agency ensures that all Lagos residents, including public servants, have access to affordable and quality healthcare, protecting them from financial hardship caused by medical bills.
