The Permanent Secretary LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba made this known on Monday at the multi stakeholders engagement meeting on emergency care coordination with a theme: Strengthening Emergency Care Coordination and Referral Pathways Across Lagos State held at LCCI Hall, Alausa, Ikeja.
The LASHMA Permanent Secretary revealed that the Lagos State Health Management Agency ( LASHMA) Assistance In Distress, popularly known as LASHMA – AID established inline with Section 6 of the Executive Order signed by Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo – Olu on 16th July 2026, made Social Health Insurance mandatory for Lagos State residents based on this since it became operational in March 2026 after it was established in December 2025, a total of 132 emergency cases have been attended to under the programme.
Out of this number 110 lives were saved,. while 22 mortalities were recorded due to the severity of injuries.
From the total numbers of lives attended to under the LASHMA – AID programme, 23 were ILERA EKO enrollees, 3 EKO Social Health Alliance ( EKOSHA) enrollees, while 106 were vulnerable residents in the state were covered by the Agency Health Insurance plans were also paid for these beneficiaries including their immediate family members with the highest number of emergency pickups were in Ikeja, Badagry; Ogba and Lagos Island.
She also stated that the ambulance service operations accouts for 76 ambulance service transport carried out by LASASA and 4 ambulance operators. The remaining cases were handled through LASHMA – AID facility focal persons through LASHMA – AID dedicated toll free numbers. LASAMBUS through a circular issued from the Head of Service’s Office has become a full fledge Agency.
While expressing her gratitude to Governor Sanwo – Olu, for the foresight to introduce this laudable initiative and for taking a decisive steps to address the concerns surrounding access to timely emergencies care therefore called on Lagos residents to make use of this toll free numbers whenever they experience an emergency or witness an emergency on the road in their communities or anywhere across the State.
She then appealed to all stakeholders to support and publicise this initiative and ensuring that residents are aware of the assistance available to them during life – threatening emergencie.
She concluded that all this were done in fulfilment of Section 6 and 7.of the Executive Order NO. EO / BOS/ 01 of 2024 which provides that in a life – threatening emergency, a healthcare facility is expected to stabilise that patients without demanding proof of enrollment or evidence of Social Health Insurance coverage.. This singular efforts by Mr Governor demonstrates that present administration prioritises the safety and well – being of the lives of Lagos residents.
In her well delivered presentation titled LASHMA – AID: First Six Months of Operations: Key Insights, Trends and Lessons Learnt, Emergency and Care Management Manager, Dr. Favour Oluwaniyi, explained that from a standing start in March 2026, LASHMA – AID managed 132 emergencies and saved 110 lives across 52 facilities in its first months of operations and that Demand rose sharply month on month, concentrated in most critical presentation: trauma, obstetric and surgical emergencies where minutes decide outcomes.
She said patients served were indegent residents who would otherwise face care at the point of payment.
Noting that Emergency demand scaled up quickly based on graphic illustration jumped from 4 in March to 37 in September. Trauma and road traffic accident are the largest group, of which 50% of the 132 case ( about 45% ) Medical and surgical emergencies together make up most of the rest; obstetric cases are few but high stakes.
Red ( immediate, life – threatening) cases carry almost all mortality, 17 of 30, yet 9 of 30 Red patients were still saved.
On the Blue colour side ( urgent) and Orange ( very urgent) cases has the strongest outcomes: 29 of 42 and 12 of 23 discharged respectively.
The clear lesson in this presentation is that faster an immediate Red case is reached and escalated, the more lives are saved.
She concluded her presentation that the Ambulance transport is delivered by 5 ASPS together. LASAMBUS and 4 accredited private provides, moving 72 of 132 patients. A further 10 were brought by Good Samaritans and relatives, the rest presented at facilities.
In an interview with News Navigator, Dr. Olufemi Omololu, Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Health Service Commission, said that part of the Commission’s mandate is basically to oversee Secondary Healthcare facilities, which are General Hospitals, LASHMA – AID is associated with Assistance In Distress emergencies cases, so when this cases happened, one of the place they likely to be taken to are the General Hospital.
The HSC he said helps to coordinates General Hospitals to ensure that the programme runs smoothly without any hindrance because its our job and task is to make sure that there are processes are in place by which the patient are accepted, treated, care for and discharged appropriately.
He said the collaboration that exist between HSC and LASHMA is cordial and advised Lagos residents to take the advantage of this to register for LASHMA ILERA EKO so that they can enjoy all the benefits which Lagos State is using to improve the health and general well – being of everybody.
He disclosed that LASHMA is doing a tremendous job while HSC will do its part in supporting that anybody who have ILERA EKO can come into any of our hospital to get the care which they are suppose to received there. We will continue to meet regularly for a result yielding collaboration.
LASHMA – AID Multi Stakeholders Engagement Meeting on Emergency Care Coordination was attended by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, the Permanent Secretary of Health District V. Dr. Oladapo Ashiyanbi, the Country Director and Chairman Health Federation of Nigeria, Officials of the Ministry of Transportation, LASTMA personnel, LASHMA, Ministry of Health Directors, Mr. Femi Giwa General Manager of Lagos State Command and Control Centre among others.
