By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) and the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have collaborated to provide free health service to 2500 residents of the council.
The council’s Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu, Mayor Dele Oshinowo made this known at the first phase of provision of iIera Eko Health Service to beneficiaries in Lagos on Thursday.
Oshinowo said the exercise was to key into the universal heath programme, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu had established since the beginning of his administration.
“We noticed a lot of people do not have access to a primary health care, and the only way we can help them is to go to the base.
“This is why we are supporting those people that are unable to access free health services and the universal basic health of the state.
“The free access to treatment that are provided are malaria, typhoid, free health to pregnant woman and during child delivery at any hospital they decided to choose,” he said.
Oshinowo noted that the exercise was in line with the THEME Agenda of this present adminstration adding that that was why Asiwaju Bola Tinubu created additional 37 LCDAs so the dividends of democracy could cut across nooks and crany of their communities.
The chairman said that first phase would cover the registration between Wednesday and Tuesday, adding that after the registration it would embark on the proper launching.
According to him, it is during the launching that they will get their Ilera Eko HMO card which will enable them to choose any hospital of their choice.
He added that by next week Tuesday the first phase would end, and before end of the year it would embark on another registration.
Oshinowo said they actually selected minimum of three people per Street in Agboyi Ketu, and this was devoid of political colouration.
The chairman said the nominees would be selected from the Lagos State Social Protection Register.
He said: “An equal number of the 2500 eligible beneficiaries are to be selected from three per Street in Agboyi Ketu and they will enjoy the Universal Health Coverage and this devoid of political colouration.
“We want people to be beware of this, people don’t believe we can do it, and by the time, we are doing the second phase a lot of them we come out to do the registration.
“The first phase is about 900 we are registering for now while the second phase will be about 1600 and at end of the day, we will be happy that this council has put in place this programme free for the next one year.”
Oshinowo urged the people of Agboyi Ketu and Kosofe to support all their candidates; including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Sen. Adetokunbo Abiru, Mrs Kafilat Ogbara, Okanlawon Sanni, Femi Saheed.
Speaking, the General Manager of LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, said the state was committed to ensure every residents lived a healthy life.
Zamba added that, that was why the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ensured that ILERA EKO premiums were highly affordable and the cheapest so far.
He said: “We have a universal health Coverage mandate that has been hand down to LASHMA by our governor.
“The key component of that universal health coverage is to ensure that we provide coverage to vulnerable among us that can not pay for themselves in terms of Health Insurance.
“The governor has embarked N300 million for this exercise and we are also getting some support from our local hovernment chairmen.
“Mayor Dele Osinowo will enroll about 2500 in this LCDA alone, and this is something of great wonder. We are very happy with our chairman and we know that other chairmen we key into it .
“We are to ensure that vulnerable people in Agboyi Ketu get access to health care inspite of the fact that pocket is very light Governor is here to ensure that everybody is protected and we all lives quality life.”
Samba said the programme was for all the vulnerable to ensure that they and their family don’t suffer because they don’t have funds to provide access to health.
According to him, this programme is available to cover your health needs to ensure that you live life just as a Rich and healthy person. Please key into it.
In his contribution, Mr Seyi Ikujuyone, the Supervisor for Agriculture, Agboyi Ketu said the chairman organised the excercise to give good health to the poor and vulnerable concerned.
Ikujuyone said he decided to take care of their health rather than given out money to individuals that the community to benefit from it.
According to him, this aim is to get back those who couldn’t go back to their business back on their feets.
He urge beneficiaries after the successful registration not just to keep their Ilera Eko HMO cards after officially been presented to them that they should make maximum use of it at various chosen medical centres.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Idowu Adeleke confirmed that the council chairman was doing well because he was after their good health, thanking him for the health intervention program
Another beneficiary, Mr Fadodun Emmanuel, commended the organiser for the excercise while noting that health is wealth.
He added that the paid for the previous ones he participated, saying that however, this excercise is free in Agboyi Ketu and urge residents not be ignorant by keying into the excercise.
He described the council chairman humanity to all as exemptional without discrimination, while urging the council to increase the publicity and awareness of the programme so that more citizens will be aware.
Kosofe Post reports that the Eko Social Health alliance, an arm of LASHMA team leading programme is been coordinated By wife of Agboyi Ketu Lcda chairman, Mrs Tawakalitu Oshinowo and his team.
