The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), in its commitment to ensuring the sustainability of the EKO Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA), one of the Lagos State Social Protection programmes, has partnered with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) to train and empower 200 EKOSHA vulnerable, on various vocational skills.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba revealed this during the graduation ceremony of the vulnerable on a short-term course organised by WAPA in conjunction with LASHMA, at Ojo Square, Somolu. She added that the empowerment of the vulnerable is the major sustainability component of EKOSHA.
Represented by the Head, Business Development, LASHMA, Mr. Olatunji Rotimi, Dr. Zamba said that the empowerment would enable the EKOSHA vulnerable to be independent as they would be able to pay for their health insurance premium upon the expiration of the one provided free for them by the Government.
Informing that they will also have money to support their families and also become employers of Labour, Zamba commended the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for approving the training and providing the necessary working tools for the trainees, stressing that the State Government is committed to ensuring that the vulnerable in the State have a good and healthy life.
Dr. Zamba also applauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for dedicating one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) as Equity Fund. The Equity Fund, she explained, is used for the Enrollment of the vulnerable on the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan.
She appreciated the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) for granting the requests of the Agency to train and empower the 200 EKOSHA vulnerable under the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Plan.
The Permanent Secretary said that the efforts of the Ministry to give voice to the helpless, hope to the hopeless and wealth to the vulnerable, are highly commendable.
Dr. Zamba averred that the training, which has gone a long way in providing different skills to the beneficiaries, would no doubt improve their livelihoods, break them free from the cycle of poverty and make them contribute positively to society for economic sustainability.
She disclosed that participants at the training who are not yet on ILERA EKO had been enrolled to ensure that they do their business in good health and have access to free healthcare for one year.
The Permanent Secretary also urged the recipients to adhere strictly to what they were taught so that in no time, they would achieve the aims and objectives of the training.
Dr. Zamba said that the Agency is committed to ensuring that every resident in the State including the vulnerable, indigents and People Living with Disabilities, irrespective of their socio-economic and cultural background is not left behind in the journey of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
She promised that the Agency will not relent in its efforts to ensure that all the vulnerable and indigents in the State, are enrolled on the Lagos State Health Scheme and have access to quality healthcare.
The Permanent Secretary appealed to eminent personalities, organisations, philanthropists and Donors, to support the Agency in providing free health insurance to the vulnerable in the State.
The recipients were trained and empowered with various vocational tools including tie & dye, catering and confectioneries, gele tying and make-up application, hairdressing and wig making, fabrics stoning and embellishments, production of soap and pomade/healthy insecticide and barbing techniques.