CUSTOMER SERVICE MONTH: LASHMA COMMENDS ILERA EKO ENROLLEES FOR PATRONAGE
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), has commended enrollees of the ILERA EKO health insurance plan for the support, patronage and utilisation of the scheme.
Speaking during the flag-off of the ILERA EKO Customer Service Month, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba stated that ILERA EKO customers deserve commendation for their important role in the sustainability of the initiative.
Stating that LASHMA would not have had major success stories in the last two years without the enrollees who have bestowed trust on the Agency’s operations, the Permanent Secretary revealed that the scheme has promoted good health among Lagos residents and reduced the rate at which patients patronise quack medical practitioners or do self-medication.
“From January to September 2023, the total number of visits by Enrollees to the various facilities under ILERA EKO is 58, 468. Out of this number, treatment of malaria recorded the highest with 19,193 visits representing 33 per cent of the total visits while that of hypertension was the next with 14, 667 visits accounting for 25 per cent of the total visits”, she said.
She further explained that during the period 5,461 Enrollees were placed on admission, out of which 3,704 visits were for diabetics treatment and 580 surgeries were performed.
For maternal care, Dr. Zamba explained that pregnant women visited the Hospitals 5,817 times for antenatal care of which 1,912 deliveries were recorded through Caesarean Sections (CS) and 1,423 were for normal deliveries.
The Agency, according to her, is working relentlessly to ensure that access to healthcare is seamless and that Providers render quality service delivery at all times.
She implored ILERA EKO customers to bear with the Agency whenever they observe any challenge in the course of accessing healthcare services, urging them to call 24/7 Customer Service Lines 0800-ILERA EKO (0800-45372356) Toll-Free or 0700 – ILERA EKO (0700-45372356) for enquirers or complaints.
“Customers can also reach out to the Agency by sending WhatsApp message to 07045358275 or 0704616005 or text message only to 08026292253”, she said.
Dr. Zamba reminded ILERA EKO customers that LASHMA runs an open-door policy and that they should not hesitate to get in touch with the Agency whenever the need arises.
Applauding Healthcare Providers for rendering quality services to the customers, she encouraged more healthcare centres to key into the ILERA EKO programme to support the State Government in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Permanent Secretary noted that the Health Service Providers under the insurance scheme have increased from 222 in 2022 to 315 Providers consisting of both public and private Hospitals including eye, dental and diagnostics centres.
The Permanent Secretary appealed to ILERA EKO Enrollees to spread the good news about ILERA EKO, especially now that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act has made Health Insurance compulsory for every Nigerian.
Reeling out the different categories of packages available for the scheme, Dr. Zamba explained that while the Pay-Small-Small model offers individual access to medical care by paying N1,000 monthly after the initial payment of N3,000 at the first instalment, the family plan gives enrollees the privilege to pay N3,500 monthly after the payment of N10,500 as the first instalment.
While confirming that referrals will be rewarded under the ILERA EKO, the Permanent Secretary implored customers to give the Health Insurance Plan to their loved ones as a Christmas or New Year gift, now that the Yuletide Season is around the corner.