The Lagos State Government has unveiled a new health initiative, EKO Social Health Alliance, to improve access to health for vulnerable and indigent residents of the state.
The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, said during the media launch on Wednesday, that the initiative seeks to enhance the quality of healthcare and most importantly, achieve universal health coverage by enabling residents, especially the vulnerable to have access to quality healthcare.
Zambas said, “The scheme was put in place to ensure that equal opportunity is given to those who cannot afford to pay ILERA EKO Premium in line with Section 20 of the Lagos State Health Scheme Law.
“It indicates that the agency should ensure the availability of an alternative source of funding to the health sector for improved services.
“The agency established EKOSHA which is the resource mobilisation arm of the agency, to care for health insurance premiums of the vulnerable and indigents in our midst.”
In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who was represented by the ministry’s Director, Medical Administration, Training and Programme, Dr Funmilayo Shokunbi, said the state government continues to make giant strides toward Sustainable Development Goals and especially the universal health coverage journey of the state.