The Lagos State Government has approved the release of funds for the states Health Scheme (LSHS), to be used for healthcare delivery to 50,000 orphans, the Elderly as well as Vulnerable persons.
Wife of the governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu disclosed this, at the celebration of the Year 2020 Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) Day on Friday.
The event organised by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), believes the development is pressing as it is necessary in view of the governments recognition that not everyone can afford the premium of the LSHS.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by a former Permanent Secretary in the state, Dr. Bola Balogun, said:
“It is gratifying to note that the governor appreciates the fact that not everyone can afford the premium, and has approved the release of funds from the equity to provide free healthcare within the Lagos State Health Scheme for 50,000 orphans, elderly and vulnerable.”
The theme of the celebration – “Health For All: Protect Everyone,” according to the wife of the governor is apt and timely, coming at a time the world is still grappling with sordid realities of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and the need to ensure that deliberate policies were put in place to safeguard the health of all.
She said it was also gratifying to note that with the global movement against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the state government was also coming up with the provision of a sexual violence intervention fund to provide immediate intervention for survivors of sexual violence.
Also speaking, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, confirmed the release of the equity fund.
He said virtual clinics would also be established as standalone units, while telemedicine units would also be set up within the Lagos Health Scheme empanelled Primary Healthcare Centres in collaboration with interesting startups and NGOs.
“We would also register and enrol a target 1,000,000 households – which translates to approximately 3,000,000 residents in Lagos within an 18-month timeline in the LSHS.
“We also plan to deliver 500 Ilera Eko centres through strategic private providers by December 2021 and another 500 centres by December 2022,” he said.
(C) Control TV 2020.
