Dec. 21, 2024
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), has recorded 143 multiple births on its Social Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), popularly known as ILERA EKO since its full take off in Year 2020.
The Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, who disclosed this during the celebration of the new triplets delivered by Mr. Toye Hamid and Mrs Habidat Hamid at Silverline Hospital, Ayobo, said that since 2020, pregnant women had 44, 231 encounters for ante-natal care and a total of 29,433 births have been recorded.
Out of this number, the Permanent Secretary represented by the Director, Administration and Human Resources, Mrs. Olufunke Longe, explained that 15,521 births were normal deliveries while 13,912 births including two quadruplets were through cesarean sections (CS).
Dr. Zamba added that the quadruplets were delivered by Mr. and Mrs. Dayo Faniyi at Ikorodu General Hospital as well as Mr. and Mrs. Saka Olayode at Gbagada General Hospital.
Congratulating Mr. Toye Hamid and Mrs Habidat Hamid on the safe delivery of their triplets, the Permanent Secretary described the triplets as gifts from God. She said that the Agency was delighted with the safe delivery of the babies.
Dr. Zamba urged the parents to take proper care of the babies and ensure that the triplets take all their immunizations which are also free on the Health Insurance Plan.
The Permanent Secretary urged residents in the State who are yet to register and enrol on ILERA EKO, to do so immediately especially during this Yuletide Season in order to enjoy the various benefit packages on the Health Insurance Plan and reduce out-of-pocket payment for medical bills.
Dr. Zamba also reiterated the Agency’s flexible payment options and called on residents who could not afford to pay full instalments to tap the opportunity of paying small-small by joining ILERA N’TIWA Cooperative which was recently launched by LASHMA.
Mr. Toye Hamid, a Geologist and unemployed, who is the proud father of the triplets, expressed his gratitude to the Lagos State Government for the love and support shown to his family by LASHMA.
He recounted how his wife, Mrs Habidat Toye, did not pay any money from antenatal care to delivery. He said, “This experience is a miracle. We are deeply thankful to LASHMA for making the journey stress-free for my family. With the premium paid, nothing was paid again at the hospital for my wife’s antenatal and delivery. Everything was covered”.
The mother of the triplets, Mrs. Habidat Hamid, who initially had three children before the delivery of the triplets, also appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, for the benefits she enjoyed under ILERA EKO.
Mrs. Toye narrated that she heard about ILERA EKO during her antenatal care after being overwhelmed with unexpected Hospital bills. She said that her brother-in-law told them about the scheme, and they decided to register.
She added that although the family was expecting twins, it was only when the surgery was done that they were aware that the babies were triplets. Mrs. Toye said, “I am amazed that we did not pay any money at all for either the twins that we are expecting or for the additional baby. I thank God for bringing us to Lagos to enjoy this wonderful Health Insurance.”
She appealed to politicians, eminent personalities, and philanthropists to support this initiative of the Lagos State Government to ensure that residents who could not afford to pay medical bills also have access to affordable and quality healthcare services. She said, “If not for ILERA EKO, where will we get the money for my antenatal and delivery, especially as my husband is still looking for a job after getting to Lagos this year?”
The triplets’ grandmother, Mrs. Moriamo Odeseye, from Oyo State, gave kudos to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and commended the Agency for relieving her children from running helter-skelter to pay the medical bills.
