- Says new policy’ll help over one million Nigerians in diaspora solve health financing of loved ones back home
By Seyi Babalola
The Lagos State Government has unveiled Ilera Eko Diaspora Plan, a social health insurance policy which allows the over one million diaspora Nigerians to provide health insurance coverage for their loved ones and family members living in the state.
The plan, which is another health insurance policy package by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), aims at deepening access to qualitative healthcare service delivery to Nigerians living in the state.
The new health plan will further drive the attainment of universal health coverage as mandated by the new National Health Insurance Act (NHIA) assented recently by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Unveiling the plan at the weekend, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, explained that the new plan was designed to afford Nigerians in diaspora the opportunity of taking caring of their parents and loved ones from wherever they are in the world.
The policy is denominated in Naira, Dollar, Pounds and Euro and is available on a monthly or yearly basis, with opportunity for professional home care option for geriatric care on demand.
Under the Ilera Eko diaspora plan, at least six relations covered under the policy, can enjoy qualitative treatment from any medical facility operating in the state and accredited by LASHMA without being a burden to their loved ones abroad.
Abayomi explained that the Ilera Eko Diaspora plan and other existing platforms under the Lagos Health Scheme are aimed at ensuring the wellbeing of all residents in the state by ensuring that everyone has access qualitative healthcare without health financing necessarily constituting a drain on peoples’ purses.
“The continuous drive by LASHMA to provide more innovative products plan as means of widening residents’ access to health insurance cover and uptake is imperative and commendable. Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Health will provide every support needed by LASHMA in order to ensure that all residents are covered under the Ilera-Eko Social Health Insurance plans”.
While urging residents to come on board and subscribe to the various plans under the health scheme, the commissioner stressed that the scheme remains the most convenient avenues to avoid huge cost of health financing either for themselves or loved ones, which may pose a huge drain on their economy.
“The launch of the new Ilera Eko Diaspora Plan is the first of its kind in Nigeria and is expected to deepen and widen access to affordable and quality care through a new gateway of opportunities for Nigerians dependent on relatives living in the diaspora for their health expenditure,” Prof. Abayomi said.
Arguing that the new plan brings globalization to the social health insurance space in Nigeria, Abayomi said: “The launch of the new Diaspora Health Plan is apt and supports the Health and environment mandate of the present administration. Lagos state Government continues to support and encourage LASHMA in the delivery of the dividend of democracy, improve lives and prevent catastrophic health spending for Lagos residents”.
According to the commissioner for health, interested persons can register by either directly visiting the LASHMA head office, or online via: www.lashma.com or www.ileraeko.com or via the direct link: https://lashmadiasporaplan.com:8086, onboard their relations maximum six, select any hospital of their choice whether public/private, from the list provided on the website, and obtain their Ilera Eko Policy Numbers, which would be sent via SMS. This must be cited by any beneficiary anytime they visit their chosen medical facility.
Abayomi explained that payment which could be done in Naira or in any preferred currency of choice, must be done using the policy identification number either on LASHMA website or through interswitch/quickteller, by clicking on Ilera Eko diapora logo.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistance to the governor on Diaspora and Foreign Relations, Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, explained that the new plan was put together as a solution to the complaints by Nigerians in diaspora of the pressure the huge demands that the health needs of their parents and loved ones residing back home is constituting on their finances.
Sanwo-Olu noted that with the diaspora plan, they would only be required to pay once and all their loved ones can benefit medical care from any LASHMA approved facility anywhere in the state.
He disclosed that his office would be leveraging on the already existing networks to engage Nigerians living outside the shores of the country, to understand that their yearnings had been resolved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.
According to him, the new LASHMA plan saves Nigerians living abroad their hard earned money and save lives of their beneficiaries. With a premium as pocket friendly as $6, they could cover their beneficiaries in Lagos, rather than the practice hitherto, where they have to send money directly to dependents for different ailments.
“But with one plan under the diaspora health insurance, they could give their loved ones the best possible care within the state. This is transformative. And it is the first in sub-saharan Africa.
LASHMA’s General Manager, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, explained that subscribers through third-party financing and management system, would be guaranteed of getting their loved ones the healthcare services they desired at any of the ILERAEKO accredited private and public hospitals in Lagos.
She added that the diaspora plan and others offered by the agency is a cushion against financial hardship arising from huge medical bills, maintenance of high standard of healthcare delivery services and offers greater value for money spent.
According to her, the benefit package covers telemedicine, teleconsultation, telemonitoring, counseling, and prescription for medication, general consultation and health education on various illnesses including HIV, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Tuberculosis, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Other benefit package are, access to specialist care including general surgeons, pediatrician, gynaecologist, physician, Orthopaedics and Outpatient care for common ailments like malaria and other acute uncomplicated febrile illnesses, Diarrhea diseases, Acute respiratory tract infections, uncomplicated pneumonia, simple anemia, simple skin diseases and other uncomplicated bacterial, fungal, parasitic and viral infections and illnesses.
“The plan also covers follow-up treatment of chronic illnesses like Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus, Sickle cell and Asthma as well as first Aid for Dog bites, Snakebites, Scorpion stings, Arthritis, and other minor musculoskeletal diseases”, she added.
Zamba noted that care for childhood illnesses, eye care, family planning services, child welfare services, hospital care admission, pharmaceutical care, blood transfusion, chronic disease and HIV/AIDS services, tuberculosis services, haematology, clinical chemistry, diagnostic radiological investigations, ultrasound test, maternal and newborn care, dental care, emergency services including renal dialysis and surgeries are also covered under the plan.
The highpoint of the historic event which was streamed live to Nigerians across the world was the official unveiling of the Ilera Eko Diaspora Logo, which has as motto: Leaving No One behind, by the Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi. He was assisted by Mr Jermain Sanwo-Olu, the CEO Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA) Dr Monsurat Adeleke, Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals Mrs Solape Hammond, the representative of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, and the DG LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba.