The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, officially launched the Ilera Eko Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan on Tuesday and also commissioned five virtual health booths to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability for residents.
The event held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, had in attendance the Governor, his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat and the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, among other dignitaries.
In his address, Sanwo-Olu said his administration was dedicated to improving the health outcomes of residents in the state, noting that the state's public servants were enrolled in the Ilera Eko scheme and enjoyed a 75 per cent health subsidy.
He explained that the five Ilera Eko virtual health booths, located in various markets and bus stops, were designed to bring healthcare closer to the people, especially those in the informal sector.
The governor also said that the booths were meant to provide first-line health services and telemedicine to ensure market men and women have access to proper healthcare services without leaving their workplaces.
He further mentioned that the new ILERA EKO Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan offers additional benefits and reduces the financial burden of medical bills.
The governor urged both the informal and formal sectors to enrol in the scheme, emphasising that the subsidised premiums make healthcare accessible for everyone.
"We are committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage and ensuring that no resident is left behind," he stated.
Sanwo-Olu urged the local government authorities and market leaders to support and maintain these facilities and called on other local councils to facilitate the installation of more virtual booths in their areas.
The governor concluded his address by reaffirming his administration's commitment to introducing policies and reforms that make healthcare accessible and affordable, stating, "Health is wealth, and prevention is better than cure."
Also speaking at the event, the special adviser to the governor on health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, stated that the health insurance plan was to bridge the gap in healthcare access to residents and to expand the benefits available to the enrollees.
"This initiative reflects the state's commitment to the health and well-being of its residents," she said.
Ogunyemi urged Lagos residents to register for the new health insurance plan and utilise the virtual booths whenever they encounter medical challenges.
She further emphasised the government's commitment to preventing untimely deaths and ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare.
In his address, the Chairman of the Lagos State Health Management Agency, Adebayo Adedewe, stated that the agency made use of technology in its operations to ensure a seamless service delivery.
He further noted that various programs and activities, such as the Ilera Eko Pay-Small-Small payment plan, are designed to make health insurance more accessible to residents.
"Our success story today is based on feedback from our customers, especially from the informal sector," he noted.
He explained that the new Ilera Eko Standard Jaara Health Insurance Plan offers more benefits than the previous plan, including telemedicine services facilitated by the newly commissioned virtual booths.
"These booths are strategically placed in high-traffic areas like markets and bus stops to provide accessible healthcare services", he said.
Adedewe stated that there were plans to expand the virtual booths to more locations, aiming to install at least 300 booths throughout the state.
He urged all Lagos residents to enrol in the Ilera Eko Health Insurance Plan and utilise the virtual booths for their healthcare needs.
"Good health is the beginning of new life," he said.
The Lagos governor and his deputy were decorated as the Grand Ambassador of Universal Health Coverage and Ambassadors of the Ilera Eko Social Health Insurance Scheme in Lagos State by the Commissioner for Health.
