Stakeholders commend LASHMA on ILERA EKO Scheme, raises concern over partners at EKOSHA town hall meeting
Ayodele Olalere
Enrollees under the Lagos State Health Scheme ILERA Eko have commended the Lagos State Health Management Agency, LASHMA, for the benefits the scheme has brought to Lagosians since it was established.
The enrollees spoke at the 2025 first quarterly meeting of the EKO Social Health Alliance, EKOSHA, another of the health schemes of the state government held at Bariga LCDA.
The meeting brought together healthcare providers, beneficiaries and the enrollees to discuss the progress the health schemes have made and find solutions to challenges enrollees are facing in accessing the scheme.
Speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said the BHCPF initiative which is a joint primary healthcare initiative between Lagos State and federal governments has recorded 372,620 enrollees and committed N1.694 billion into the Lagos State health scheme since its commencement in Lagos in 2022.
She added that the Sanwo-Olu’s administration has increased its contributions into the scheme to N3billion. She further noted that 209 vulnerable people have been offered free enrollment through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA.
Zamba thanked the enrollees for their unwavering support to the scheme reminding them that they play a vital role in advancing the state’s healthcare agenda.
Some of the enrollees commended LASHMA for the smooth operation of the scheme at various hospitals.
The Otun Iyaloja of Oyediran market, Mrs Akinwale Labake urged the people to make use of the ILERA Eko Scheme.
” Government has done it’s part but it’s left to us to use this scheme. They have doctors who attend to enrollees without delay and have provided drugs in the hospitals. I commend the Lagos State government for this,” she said.
However some enrollees expressed displeasure at the attitudes of some medical practitioners as well as hospitals on the scheme whom they say extort enrollees as against the free treatment they are expected to provide.
They urged the Permanent Secretary and her team to embark on monitoring partners on the scheme and withdraw whatever partnership agreement they had with those found guilty of violating it.
In her response, Dr Zamba assured the enrollees that the state government will not hesitate to cut off from.the scheme any partner found to be violating the operational agreement.
The team lead for EKOSHA, Tawa Oshinowo ,said the meeting has helped to reaffirm the collective commitment of the government and stakeholders to ‘strengthening this system for the benefit of every Lagosian who relies on it.’
” To our healthcare providers, we recognize your dedication and the crucial role you play in making this system work. To our enrollees, your voices guide our improvements, and we remain committed to ensuring seamless access to healthcare for all,” Tawa said.
