By Kayode Olopade
LAGOS — The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has intensified efforts to drive compliance with the state’s mandatory health insurance policy, convening a two-day capacity-building workshop for health journalists as full enforcement begins across government institutions.
The agency said media partnership would be critical to deepening publi Kayode inc awareness and trust in the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme, following the Executive Order signed on July 16, 2024, by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu mandating health insurance coverage for all residents of Lagos State.
Speaking at the workshop in Lagos, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the engagement as strategic to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
“The success of mandatory health insurance in Lagos depends significantly on public awareness and trust,” Zamba said. “Achieving Universal Health Coverage is a shared responsibility involving government, healthcare providers, partners, residents and the media.”
The training, organised in collaboration with the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH) and the EngenderHealth Consortium, focused on strengthening journalists’ understanding of the ILERA EKO customer journey, benefits package, service delivery processes, grievance redress mechanisms, and the rights and responsibilities of enrollees.
Zamba said enforcement of the Executive Order had commenced across Ministries, Departments and Agencies, but stressed that education and engagement remain the government’s priority.
To demonstrate commitment, she disclosed that all public servants in Lagos State have been enrolled under ILERA EKO, with the government paying 75 per cent of their annual premium while employees contribute the remaining 25 per cent.
She added that one per cent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund has been earmarked as an Equity Fund to provide coverage for vulnerable residents. The fund, she noted, was recently increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion and approved as a first-line charge.
Despite these measures, Zamba expressed concern that enrolment levels remain below expectations.
“In a megacity like Lagos, health insurance is no longer optional—it is essential,” she said. “The programme is designed to protect residents from catastrophic health expenses, strengthen the health system and ensure sustainable healthcare financing. But policies alone do not guarantee success; understanding and cooperation are vital.”
As of December 2024, more than 1.3 million residents had enrolled in the ILERA EKO scheme, according to LASHMA.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, underscored the influence of the media in shaping public discourse and accountability in the health sector.
“Journalists occupy a powerful and unique position. Your reporting informs public understanding, influences policies and priorities, and holds institutions accountable,” she said.
Makanjuola urged reporters to strengthen investigative and data-driven health journalism by scrutinising funding flows, policy implementation, workforce gaps and service delivery outcomes.
“By following the money, the policy, the targets and the institutions, you elevate evidence-based conversations on health insurance coverage, primary healthcare funding and equity in access for underserved populations,” she added.
Also speaking, ISMPH representative Boniface Kassam called for ethical and professional reporting on ILERA EKO and broader health reforms, stressing that responsible journalism is essential to safeguarding public health.
Participants at the workshop, who are members of the Health Writers Association of Nigeria, pledged to amplify awareness campaigns and promote accurate reporting on the scheme’s compliance and enforcement mechanisms.
With implementation frameworks now activated, Lagos is positioning itself as the first state in Nigeria to operationalise a comprehensive, statewide mandatory social health insurance system—an initiative policymakers say could become a model for subnational health financing reforms nationwide.
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