By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos.
A sustainable healthcare service system with Universal Health Coverage programme has been initiated by Lagos State.
The project which is executed by Lagos Health Mission is designed to address the growing healthcare needs of the under-served and the hard-to-reach residents of the fast-growing mega city.
Lagos Health Mission is a medical intervention that provides free healthcare services to residents of Lagos State.
“The mission provides services that take healthcare to the doorsteps of its citizens at no cost to the people,” Dr. Jide Idris, Commissioner for Health, said.
He also declared that Lagos State Ministry of Health is working tirelessly to to develop and implement strategies, programmes, interventions and initiatives to improve the health outcome of all Lagosians.
Health Mission, he disclosed, is used to complement healthcare service delivery in the state.
The commissioner explained that “the Health Mission was put in place as part of the state government’s quest to find ways to take healthcare to the grassroots and the under-served areas of Lagos State by addressing healthcare issues of the rural communities.”
According to Idris, the Health Mission is geared towards strategic development plan of ensuring universal health coverage (UHC) for the people of Lagos State.
So far, 12,753 beneficiaries of the scheme have been recorded in its first and second phase.
Residents of the communities covered were screened and Managed for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, common ailments, eye diseases and dental problems.
The programme also offered antenatal care as well as family planning services for reproductive health and safety.
In addition, HIV screening and counseling sessions were part of the mission’s package