The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has launched the Rural Health Scheme under the Eko Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) initiative, aimed at extending quality healthcare to underserved and hard-to-reach communities across the state.
The programme was officially flagged off on Tuesday at Agboyi Ori-Omi Community in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA), in line with an Executive Order by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu mandating the inclusion of all Lagos residents under the state’s health insurance policy.
Under the initiative, mobile clinics and ambulances will visit rural communities three times weekly, supported by partnerships with local tricycle operators to provide free emergency transportation for patients requiring urgent care.
Speaking at the flag-off, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, described the scheme as a historic milestone in the state’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to social protection, noting that the Equity Fund had made the project financially sustainable.
“We are bringing healthcare directly to your doorsteps,” Zamba said. “Every Lagosian, no matter where they live, deserves access to quality care.”
She explained that the pilot phase will cover five rural communities across the three senatorial districts: Agboyi Ori-Omi and Iba Oloja (Lagos East), Lafiaji and Okun Ajah (Lagos Central), and Boglo in Badagry (Lagos West).
Zamba disclosed that the governor approved free health insurance for 5,000 residents of Agboyi Ori-Omi, with registration ongoing until Friday, November 14. The mobile clinics, she said, will offer consultations, treatment for common illnesses, laboratory tests, and drug dispensing. Patients requiring advanced care will be referred to Mascara PHC, Ketu, or Gbagada General Hospital, all at no cost.
Also speaking, Dr. Dayo Lajide, Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District II, said the initiative was launched following findings from a recent medical outreach that revealed wide healthcare gaps in the area. He praised Governor Sanwo-Olu’s swift response and LASHMA’s effective coordination.
The Vice Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Hon. Yomi Ganiu, who represented the council chairperson, expressed gratitude for the government’s intervention, describing it as “true governance with a human face.”
Traditional leaders in attendance, including Oba (Engr.) Monsuru Abimbola Oladega, the Olu of Agboyi Kingdom, and Oba Isiaka Balogun Oyero, the Oba of Ketu Kingdom, commended the initiative and pledged their support to ensure its sustainability.
Head of ILERA EKO Medical Services, Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe, outlined that the mobile clinics would provide treatment for malaria, diarrhoea, fever, immunisations, and preventive health services. He noted that LASHMA had partnered with tricycle operators to convey referred patients to hospitals free of charge.
“No Lagosian should be denied medical care because of distance or poverty,” Fadipe said.
The event featured cultural displays and free medical screenings, as residents eagerly registered for the free health insurance. The mobile clinic began operations immediately after the launch, marking the start of a new chapter in community healthcare delivery. The EKOSHA Rural Health Scheme represents a major step in Lagos State’s push for universal health access, ensuring that even riverine and remote areas benefit from the state’s expanding healthcare network.
