... The number of enrollees in the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme “Ilera Eko” has grown to a total of 1,152,455. According to the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr Emmanuella Zamba, the total number of enrollees, which stood at 923,000 in 2023 has increased by 229, 455 in the last twelve months. The Permanent Secretary made this known while delivering the lead speech during a media briefing to commemorate the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2024. the theme, “Health: It’s on the (house) Government.” Recall that the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had earlier this year signed an Executive Order which was to domesticate the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) Act. The Order was also to strengthen the Lagos State Health Scheme Law of 2015, which makes enrolment in ILERA EKO mandatory for all residents by ensuring that more people can access quality healthcare services. Speaking further, Zamba said: “This year’s theme underscores the vital role of government leadership in ensuring that healthcare is accessible, affordable, and equitable for all. It also provides the opportunity for us to showcase the Government’s immense contributions to healthcare using the ILERA EKO Way. “Universal Health Coverage is not just a global ideal; it is a fundamental human right that all people have access to the full range of quality health services they need, when and where they need them, without financial hardship. “Lagos State has made tremendous strides toward Universal Health Coverage, and our journey has been driven by the ILERA EKO scheme, which embodies the government’s commitment to health equity. Since the enactment of the Lagos State Health Scheme Law in 2015, LASHMA has worked tirelessly to ensure that residents are protected from catastrophic health expenditures and can access quality care when they need it.” The Permanent Secretary added, “Investing in health is not just about improving lives—it is about strengthening the backbone of our societies and economies. A healthy population means a more productive workforce, stronger communities, and greater national resilience. “Universal Health Coverage is the key to achieving these outcomes, and it requires unwavering political will, strategic funding, and inclusive policies that prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable. “Today, we will take you through our journey to UHC using the ILERA EKO Way. We will share how the scheme has grown over the years, with over one million enrollees and an expanded benefits package. We will also highlight our strategies to enlighten the public and drive enrollment. Public awareness is critical to the success of ILERA EKO, and we have implemented innovative initiatives to simplify the enrolment process and ensure that every Lagosian is aware of the scheme’s benefits. “We will provide insights into these strategies, including our growth initiatives designed to enhance the scheme’s reach and impact.” Zamba explained that in order to boost ILERA EKO scheme, the agency had partnered with a healthcare provider network, saying.the network was the backbone of the scheme which provides channels to make enquiries and complaints. “Additionally, we will look into how we are addressing the needs of vulnerable populations through the Eko Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA). You will see how we are bridging the gap through our innovative approach, ensuring that no Lagosian is left behind in our journey to UHC. “We will also highlight measures we are taking to ensure that all residents fulfill their obligation to enroll in ILERA EKO, which is critical to achieving our shared goal of Universal Health Coverage,” she stated. In her contribution, Head Monitoring & Evaluation of LASHMA, Tayo Adetoro said that since the inception of Ilera Eko, a total of 1,152, 455 Lagosians have enrolled in the programme. She added that the agency has been partnering with other agencies to ensure that the scope of expansion is enhanced.Another stowaway caught on Delta flight raises major concerns about airport safety
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Agricultural land in Central Asia and the Caucasus is degrading at an alarming rate. Officials did a lot of handwringing about the issue during a roundtable at the recently completed COP29 environmental conclave. But in highlighting urgent needs, participants didn’t proffer many ideas about how to mitigate the myriad challenges. Globally, about 40 percent of agricultural land is vulnerable to degradation, Azerbaijan’s agriculture minister, Majnun Mammadov, stated in his opening remarks at the roundtable, adding as much as 12 million acres of arable land around the world becomes unproductive every year. Conditions are particularly acute in Tajikistan, where almost one-third of the country’s agricultural land is in “critical condition,” according to a published by the Asia-Plus news agency. But such challenges as deforestation, soil salinization and over-grazing are threatening other Central Asian states too, especially Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Citing UN data, the Asia-Plus report stated that 39 percent of Central Asia’s landmass is experiencing drought. In presenting a plan to introduce water-conserving and soil-monitoring technologies in Uzbekistan, the country’s ecology minister, Aziz Abdukhakimov, exuded a sense of urgency. “We must act quickly and decisively, otherwise we will leave only deserts for future generations,” he stated. Participants agreed that a multilateral approach was needed to address soil degradation, but no specific initiatives to promote joint action were discussed. Even if plans had been worked out to address problems, Central Asian states lack the funds to fully implement them on their own. And that situation doesn’t look like it will change anytime soon. Developing nations say substantive climate action will take over $1 trillion per year in funding from wealthy nations. Yet, after prolonged and, at times, bitter negotiations at COP29 in Baku, wealthy nations agreed to commit $300 billion annually to address global-warming related issues, including soil degradation. That figure marks a substantial increase over the $100 billion that wealthy nations had previously pledged to commit to help developing countries adapt to global warming conditions. But somehow everyone departed Baku full of hard feelings. Developing nations accused the globally rich of being cheap. At the same time, many wealthy nations, especially the United States and European Union members, were angry that economically advanced states, such as China and Saudi Arabia, claimed to still be developing countries not obligated to make any contribution to the COP climate action fund. The causes of soil degradation are not new, with many linked to global warming. A published by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in 2022 also identified several man-made factors contributing to the loss of farmland and pasture across Central Asia, including an overreliance on cotton cultivation and inefficient irrigation practices. The cumulative effects of soil degradation are heightening social challenges across the region, acting as a “significant trigger” for migration from the countryside to cities, resulting in increases in air pollution, according to the UN report. It also cautioned that a vicious cycle of social harm, fueling a decline in living standards in Central Asia, is taking hold. “Land degradation, combined with increasing anthropogenic pressure caused by population growth and density, leads to a decrease in the availability of productive land and water resources, a drop in crop yields and livestock productivity,” UN study states. ByTitans are their own worst enemy as they fail again to string together winsPodcaster and former host — who has to invoke her famous father, the late Republican Sen. John McCain — blasted Hunter Biden as a “nepo baby” after he received a pardon from his dad, President Joe Biden. The irony of McCain’s comments wasn’t lost on her liberals and progressive critics, who the conservative pundit for her apparent . “No one is above the law except the Presidents [sic] nepo baby is a helluva partying message for democrats,” McCain on Monday morning in reaction to the president giving clemency to his troubled son. Of course, McCain is in railing against the president for issuing the pardon just weeks before his son is scheduled to be sentenced in two separate criminal cases. On December 12, Hunter was set to be sentenced for his conviction on federal gun charges. Four days later, he was to also receive a sentence for the federal tax charges he pleaded guilty to in June. Unsurprisingly, President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans the president’s decision, labeling him a for pardoning Hunter after repeatedly saying before the election he would not do so while insisting “no one is above the law.” Many Democrats, though, joined their GOP counterparts in criticizing the leader of their party. “While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBiden’s natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis declared. At the same time, the president has his move to spare his son prison time and any convictions and potential criminal charges related to Hunter’s business dealings over a decade-plus span. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” he said. Still, McCain deciding to take a swipe at Hunter for having a famous dad was a step too far for some, considering the role nepotism has seemingly played in her own career. As , McCain even has the term in her social media bio. “Meghan, you should never — under any circumstances — use ‘nepo baby.’ How can you not know this?!” Davidson College professor Isaac Bailey on X (formerly Twitter). “Is Meghan McCain talking about nepo babie???” YouTuber Jack Cocchiarella . McCain even received the treatment. “Hunter Biden thinks he deserves special treatment because he has a famous politician father — by Meghan McCain,” the satirical account on Bluesky. This isn’t the first time McCain has been ridiculed for over their famous familial connections. She’s even previously called Hunter Biden the “ultimate product of nepotism,” prompting social media users to label her At the same time, when speaking of the role nepotism has played in her career, she’s her “work ethic speaks for itself” and she “no longer cares” if someone thinks she’s “going to be a lazy, spoiled brat.” Meanwhile, her former colleagues at have the president’s decision to pardon Hunter, saying outgoing commanders-in-chief “do it every time” and they’re “not sure why the pearl-clutching is happening now.”
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