Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) on Wednesday intensified efforts to deepen health insurance coverage at the grassroots with a stakeholders’ engagement titled “Ilera Eko, Ilera Ibile,” held at the Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Secretariat in Ilupeju.
The engagement, organised in collaboration with Conference 57—the umbrella body representing the 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and LCDAs in Lagos State—brought together government officials, traditional rulers, market leaders, healthcare stakeholders and community representatives to drive enrollment into the Lagos State Social Health Insurance Scheme, popularly known as Ilera Eko.
Welcoming participants, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, described the forum as a critical step toward achieving universal health coverage through inclusive, community-driven strategies. She noted that the initiative followed resolutions reached with the 57 council chairmen during their February 2026 retreat and marks the first phase of a three-pronged grassroots enrollment campaign.
Zamba explained that the engagement would be followed by door-to-door sensitisation campaigns and a compliance monitoring framework at the local government level to ensure sustained participation. She reiterated the commitment of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration to universal health coverage, citing the Executive Order mandating residents to enroll in the scheme.
She further disclosed that the State’s equity fund for vulnerable populations has been increased to ₦3 billion as a first-line charge to ensure indigent residents are not excluded. According to her, the Eko Social Health Alliance (EKOSHA) is driving the identification and enrollment of vulnerable groups, while flexible payment options such as “Pay Small, Small” and cooperative schemes have been introduced to ease financial barriers.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, Hon. Seyi Jakande, emphasised the importance of healthcare to economic growth and community development. He noted that Ilera Eko offers comprehensive services, including consultations, surgeries, maternal care, physiotherapy and telemedicine through a network of accredited providers, and announced that the LCDA has sponsored the enrollment of 1,000 vulnerable residents.
Jakande also highlighted ongoing investments in primary healthcare infrastructure, including facility upgrades, medical outreaches and immunisation campaigns, alongside plans to commission additional health centres. He called on traditional rulers, market leaders and community groups to mobilise residents to enroll in the scheme.
Other stakeholders, including representatives of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), LASHMA officials, traditional rulers and market leaders, pledged support for the initiative. They stressed the need for awareness, affordability and community ownership, while reaffirming commitments to technical support, grassroots mobilisation and sustained collaboration to improve healthcare access.
