LASHMA Expands Coverage For Vulnerable Residents, Trains Journalists On Ilera Eko
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, has reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to ensuring that all residents, regardless of socio-economic status, have access to quality, affordable, and equitable healthcare services.
Zamba made this reaffirmation in her keynote address at a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists on the Lagos State Health Scheme and the Mandatory Social Health Insurance Programme (Ilera Eko). The workshop was organised by LASHMA in partnership with the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH).
She disclosed that all public servants in the state have enrolled in ILERA EKO, with the state government paying 75 per cent of the annual premium, while public servants contribute the remaining 25 per cent.
Speaking further, Zamba explained that one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund has been earmarked as an Equity Fund to provide health insurance coverage for vulnerable residents. She added, “This Equity Fund was increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion and approved as a first-line charge, reinforcing the State’s resolve to leave no one behind.”
“Despite these efforts and the introduction of innovations to simplify enrolment and reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure, many residents are still not covered. This highlights the need for sustained awareness and accurate information. In a megacity like Lagos, health insurance is no longer optional; it is essential. The Mandatory Social Health Insurance Programme is designed to protect residents from catastrophic health expenses, strengthen the health system, and ensure sustainable healthcare financing.
“Policies alone do not guarantee success. Their effectiveness depends on the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders. The media plays a critical role in this process by explaining policies, dispelling myths, amplifying impact, and holding institutions accountable,” she added.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director of ISMPH, Moji Makanjuola, emphasised the responsibilities of journalists and the media in holding public institutions accountable and influencing policies through their reportage.
Makanjuola stated that the workshop would strengthen the capacity of journalists to carry out their responsibilities more effectively.
She added that clear, accurate, and consistent reporting can help ensure that investments across all aspects of healthcare delivery are adequate, transparent, and effectively managed.
However, she urged journalists to make use of the knowledge and tools gained from the workshop to deepen investigative reporting and amplify the voices of men, women, caregivers, and frontline health workers.
Meanwhile, aspects of the training included the role of journalists in advancing awareness of Ilera Eko health packages; how the media can serve as a catalyst for public health; ensuring that health insurance information is accessible, accurate, and impactful; ethical reporting and building public confidence in health insurance; and the prevention of misinformation and public panic, among others.
