LAGOS HOLDS FIRST ILERA EKO PROVIDERS FORUM, SEEKS COLLABORATION TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY

The Lagos State Government has organized the first ILERA EKO Providers Forum and solicited for more collaborations from the healthcare providers in order to improve service delivery to the Enrollees.

The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who said this at the first ILERA EKO Providers Forum themed “A Brighter Future” organized by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, added that the collaborations become necessary in order to harness all the resources and capacity available to move the Scheme forward.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Commissioner said that as the State Government continues in its giant strides towards ensuring a Smart City, the health sector has made significant contributions and is continually striving to improve the overall health indices and quality of life of Lagos residents.

Prof. Abayomi said that ILERA EKO was conceived by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as part of his promise of a healthier Lagos in his T.H.E.M.E.S AGENDA. In keeping to Mr. Governor’s promise, the Commissioner said that the present administration has continued to provide immense support to LASHMA towards the actualization of the mandate as an integral part of the State Government Universal Health Coverage (UHC) journey.

He reiterated that ILERA EKO has provided various healthcare services across different spectrums of care and Lagos residents have benefitted immensely from ILERA EKO in the areas of access to quality maternal and child health services, immunizations, out patient and in patient treatment of medical cases, quality laboratory and diagnostic services as well as surgical procedures.

The Commissioner said that the State Government has taken actionable steps toward improving access and benefits on ILERA EKO by unveiling various ILERA EKO health plans, expanding the health benefits package and also implementing various provider improvement initiatives such as technical training and distribution of drugs to address out-of-stock.

The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, in her welcome address, appreciated the providers from the primary level to secondary level, both public and private, specialists, laboratory and diagnostic service providers, Nursing care and Pharmacists as well as partners which have supported the Agency to ensure that residents in the State have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

She said that the Forum which would henceforth becomes an annual event, would create an avenue to co-learn and co-develop strategies targeted at improved service delivery on the Scheme while advancing the State towards UHC. The General Manager added that the Forum would also facilitate knowledge exchange between the healthcare providers and LASHMA for defined policies or strategies for the improvement of access and quality of care on the Scheme.

Dr. Zamba assured that the strategies developed and decisions taken would become valuable tools for a sure progression towards improving the Scheme at large.

On utilisation of the Scheme, the General Manager revealed that since the full commencement of ILERA EKO in 2020, Enrollees have visited the Hospitals under the Scheme 457,770 times. Out of these visits, the highest was malaria cases with 156,458 visits amounting to 34.2 per cent followed by 41,588 visits for hypertension related (9.1 per cent) and 20, 559 visits for diabetes related (4.5 per cent).

She added that 25,514 antenatal visits were recorded and 17,358 babies were delivered on the Scheme out of which 7,290 babies (42 per cent) were delivered via Cesarean sections and 10,068 (58 per cent) were normal deliveries.

In addition, Dr. Zamba said that a total of 1,321 and 332 tests were conducted for HIV and Tuberculosis respectively.

Board Member, Dr. Tunji Akintade, in his closing remarks, urged the providers not to renege on the outcomes of the Forum. He added that while the Forum identifies opportunities and incentives to enhance cooperation and foster partnerships that can deliver the ILERA EKO mandate, it is critical to avoid any reversal or stagnation in the significant progress that have been made on the Scheme.

Three categories of Award – Customercentric, Special Recognition and Most Supportive Medical Directors/Medical Officer of Health were also presented to recognise and celebrate health workers who have conducted themselves in an exemplary manner worthy of appreciation.

Recipients included the Medical Director, Island Maternity, Dr. Olufemi Omololu, Medical Director, SUBOL Hospital, Dr. Olayiwola Bello, Medical Officer of Health, Itaelewa PHC, Dr. Rahman Odesesan, Ikorodu General Hospital, Okiki Clinic and Maternity Hospital, Aruna Ogun Memorial Specialist Hospital, Odumbaku PHC and Golden Cross Infirmary Hospital.

Guests at the event included the Chairman, Health Service Commission, Dr. Mrs Atinuke Onayiga, Permanent Secretary, Health Service Commission, Dr. Ademuyiwa Eniayewun, retired Permanent Secretary and Service Charter Champion, Princess Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi, Board Member, LASHMA, Comrade Olurotimi Awojide, Executive Secretary, Domestic and Sexual Violence Trauma (DSVT), Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Aids Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Monsurat Adeleke, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practioners (ANPMP), Dr. Akinlemibola Makinde, Chairman, Health Care Providers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State Chapter, Pharmacist Mrs Bisola Paul-Ozieh, representative of the Executive Secretary, Ogun State Health Insurance Agency, Mr. Yesufa Adetola, Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists, Pharmacist Lawrence Ekhator, Medical Directors under the Scheme and LASHMA Partners