The Lagos State Health Management Agency has intensified efforts to expand grassroots health insurance coverage, mobilising stakeholders in Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area to increase enrolment in the state’s social health insurance scheme.
At a stakeholders’ engagement tagged “Ilera Eko, Ilera Ibile,” held in Ilupeju, the agency stated that the initiative aimed to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage through community-driven strategies.
The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Emmanuella Zamba, described the forum as a critical platform for collaboration and action to ensure residents have access to affordable healthcare.
“This engagement is not merely another gathering; it is a strategic platform for collaboration, dialogue, and collective action to ensure every resident has access to affordable and equitable healthcare,” she said.
Zamba explained that the engagement was the first phase of a three-pronged campaign agreed upon during a retreat with the 57 council chairmen in February 2026, adding that it would be followed by door-to-door sensitisation and a compliance monitoring framework to sustain enrolment.
She reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to universal health coverage, noting that an executive order mandating residents to enrol in the scheme was already in place.
She added that the state has increased its equity fund for vulnerable populations to ₦3bn as a first-line charge to ensure indigent residents are not excluded from accessing healthcare services.
Zamba noted that the Eko Social Health Alliance is leading efforts to identify and enrol vulnerable residents, while flexible payment options such as “Pay Small, Small” and cooperative schemes have been introduced to reduce financial barriers.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA, Seyi Jakande, announced that the council had sponsored the enrolment of 1,000 vulnerable residents, with registration set to begin immediately.
He noted that the scheme provides comprehensive healthcare services, including consultations, surgeries, maternal care, physiotherapy, and telemedicine, through a network of accredited providers.
Jakande said the intervention was part of broader efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery at the grassroots, including facility upgrades, medical outreaches, and immunisation campaigns.
Speaking on behalf of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, analyst Cynthia Kukoyi pledged continued technical and programmatic support to Lagos State, particularly in implementing door-to-door campaigns across local governments.
She commended the LCDA leadership for its proactive approach and expressed confidence in improved health outcomes through sustained collaboration.
Also, the LASHMA Area Coordinator for Odi-Olowo Ojuwoye LCDA and Mushin LGA, Ogunnaike Adewunmi, said the scheme was designed to eliminate out-of-pocket spending on healthcare, adding that enforcement of the state’s mandatory insurance policy had commenced.
Similarly, the Head of Business Development at LASHMA, Olatunji Rotimi, highlighted innovative payment models aimed at improving accessibility.
He said, “The ‘Pay Small, Small’ initiative allows flexible premium payments over time, while cooperative models enable immediate access to healthcare and additional social benefits.”
In his goodwill message, the traditional ruler of the community, Oba Sikirulah Olamide Williams, described the initiative as a laudable step towards equitable healthcare access and urged residents, especially artisans and traders, to enrol.
The Iyaloja of the LCDA, Adebimpe Muftiat, also called on market men and women to take advantage of the scheme, stressing that good health is essential for productivity.
In her closing remarks, the Medical Officer of Health for the LCDA, Abimbola Folabi, emphasised the need for sustained collaboration and community ownership to achieve universal health coverage.
She urged participants to serve as ambassadors of the scheme, noting improvements in healthcare delivery, including upgraded 24-hour primary health centres and the introduction of electronic medical records.
The engagement ended with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to expanding enrolment, strengthening awareness, and ensuring that no resident is left behind in accessing quality and affordable healthcare in Lagos State.
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