Lagos govt expands healthcare access, offers free insurance to 1,320 residents

As part of an effort to alleviate the financial burden resulting from huge medical bills for residents, the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority has secured a free health insurance package for 1,320 residents of the three senatorial districts domiciled in the state.

The free health insurance scheme, offered by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority for one year, is being undertaken under ILERA EKO in partnership with the Lagos State Health Management Agency.

The initiative, which is being implemented simultaneously across multiple locations, covered 360 individual beneficiaries and 240 families, with each family entitled to four members, bringing the total number of individuals reached to 960 under family coverage and 1,320 beneficiaries overall.

Speaking during the official rollout, Bashir Are, Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, emphasised the importance of accessible healthcare and reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to improving the well-being of its citizens through strategic interventions such as the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme.

He noted that the exercise was conducted concurrently across designated Centres at the weekend, covering the three Senatorial Districts in the State, namely, Lagos Central, held at a Local Council Area; Lagos East, held at Ikorodu Local Government Office; and Lagos West, held at Agege Youth Centre.

Are further stated that the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority had fully paid the beneficiaries’ health insurance subscription for one year, describing the initiative as “a first-of-its-kind intervention.”

He expressed optimism that, based on the success recorded, the Agency would seek approval to sustain and possibly expand the initiative in subsequent years.

Also present at the event was Emmanuella Zamba, Permanent Secretary/CEO of LASHMA, who highlighted the wide range of healthcare services covered under the policy. She encouraged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the scheme and assured them of access to quality healthcare services across accredited hospitals within the State.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority matters and the Deputy Chairman of the APC in Lagos State, both commending the initiative as a people-centred intervention aligned with the Government’s health agenda.

In addition to the insurance enrollment, beneficiaries at all Centres received free basic health screenings, including blood pressure checks and fasting blood sugar tests, further reinforcing the preventive healthcare approach of the programme.

This initiative underscores the Lagos State Government’s continued dedication to achieving universal health coverage and improving the quality of life for its residents through impactful partnerships and sustainable healthcare programmes.