Published By Olanrewaju Adesanya
The Head of Service, Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, has applauded the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Dr. Olufemi Hamzat and the Lagos State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa for their commitments and contributions to the success of the Lagos State Health Scheme, ILERA EKO.
The Head of Service, gave this compliments at the opening ceremony of customer appreciation week in commemoration of the one-year ILERA EKO access to healthcare organised by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa.
Muri-Okunola said that the Lagos State Government payment of the 75 per cent annual premium of the public servants which enable them to access healthcare under ILERA EKO with effect from 1st June, 2020, is an evidence and demonstration of government’s commitment to staff welfare.
He urged public servants in the state to spread the good news of ILERA EKO to their neighbours, personal staff, community development associations, schools and organizations among others that with N8, 500 annually, an individual can access good and quality healthcare while with N40, 000 annually, a family of six consisting of the father, mother and four children below 23 years can also access care in any hospital of their choice under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS).
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The Head of Service who commended the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), for a job well done said “today, the Lagos State Health Management Agency, is commemorating one-year of the take-off of ILERA EKO, it is equally gratifying that enrollees on ILERA EKO, Lagos State Public Servants and other residents alike, are sharing good testimonies about the Scheme”.
Muri-Okunola said that although health insurance is new in Nigeria, therefore, enrollees will experience some teething challenges. He urged the customers to bear with the Agency which is working relentlessly to ensure that customers get the desired satisfaction and value for their money.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr. Ore Finnih, in his keynote address, also appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his longstanding leadership and commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
According to him, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu since inception, has continued to show its commitment to the health of the residents through its budgetary allocations.
Prof. Abayomi who said that health is one of the integral components of the THEMES Agenda added that the health component of the agenda is anchored on the premise of the Lagos State Health Scheme, by ensuring that every resident of the state has a quality, equitable and affordable healthcare.
He reminded all that health insurance is a form of pooling premiums as well as government subsidy to pay to provide healthcare to everyone enrolled on the scheme adding that it is a form of solidarity whereby everyone pays and those who are not sick subsidize payment for those that are sick.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, represented by Dr. Olufunmilayo Shokunbi, earlier in his opening remarks, said that the customer appreciation week celebrating by the Lagos State Health Management Agency, is innovative and as such will provide more innovative results which will make customers to promote ILERA EKO to all and sundry in the state.
The Permanent Secretary said that the innovation will raise more awareness for buy-in to the Scheme so that huge medical bills and out of pocket payment on health are minimal.
The Board Chairman, LASHMA, Dr. Adetokunbo Alakija, in his welcome address, commended the customers of ILERA EKO for their contributions and support towards the realization of the mandate of the Agency.
He said that the positive feedback and testimonies from customers are indeed of great help to the Agency to serve the customers better.
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The Chairman said that customer appreciation week is organized by the Agency to appreciate public servants who are the primary constituents of ILERA EKO for their commitment to ILERA EKO health plan in the past one year.
To appreciate customers, Public Servants also participated in the miming and choreographing of ILERA EKO Theme Song. The participants from the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), emerged as the overall winner while the Ministry of Establishments and Training came second and Office of the Deputy Governor emerged as third. The winner bagged a cash prize of N100, 000 while the second position had 70,000 cash prize and the third winner received a cash prize of N50, 000 only.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Civic Engagement, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Permanent Secretaries, Public Service Office, Mr. Segun Ajibade, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olusina Thorpe, Women and Poverty Alleviation represented by Mrs Kudirat Hopo, Local Government and Community Affairs, represented by Miss Adejoke Raheem, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Persons Living with Disability, Mrs Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal and General Manager, Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs, Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo.
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