By Adekunle Yusuf
TO further protect residents and reduce their risk of contracting coronavirus, the Lagos State government has launched ‘’Eko Telemed,” an online healthcare platform.
The General Manager, Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said from April 22, residents would have access to experienced medical doctors for non-emergency primary care advice via voice or video call without leaving their homes.
To enjoy the new service, Zamba said residents who develop any non-COVID health issues during the lockdown only need to dial 08000EKOMED (08000356633) free toll.
According to her, the free toll line would enable residents to have direct access to non-emergency primary care via voice or video call and speak with medical doctors in any of the four major languages in the state – English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo.
She added that doctors and case managers would be available daily on ‘’Eko Telemed’’ to provide services to Lagosians for eight weeks as the state continues to roll out strategies for containing the pandemic.
If further medical treatment is needed after consultation with the medical doctors, Zamba explained that non-Covid-19 cases would be referred to designated healthcare providers under the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) or, where applicable, preferred healthcare providers.
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She, however, stressed that patients with high index of COVID-19 suspicion would only be referred to designated testing sites and isolation centers in the state through the COVID19 hotline.
Zamba, who commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for approving the project, said Eko Telemed provided by the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) is part of COVID-19 response.
She added that the project would increase access to care, reduce the challenge of travel to hospitals in this period of restricted movements, except for emergencies.
It would also create an entry point for quicker evacuation of confirmed and severely ill suspected COVID-19 cases to the designated treatment facility. This, according to her, would ensure better health outcomes for affected citizens, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the pandemic.
“ ’Eko Telemed’ marks a new beginning in the provision of medical consultation and services for the Lagos State Health Scheme. I appeal to residents to tap into the opportunity for the Lagos State Government to further protect their lives and family as well as contain the spread of the virus,” she said.
The LASHMA GM said further that discussions were ongoing to ensure that this novel service would continue to be provided under the LSHS. She reminded residents to at all times wash their hands, ensure social distancing and obey the lockdown order to the letter “so that collectively, we can contain the virus.”
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