) The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) on Tuesday called on journalists to intensify public enlightenment on the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS) and the mandatory social health insurance programme, Ilera Eko.
The Director-General, LASHMA, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, made the call at a two-day capacity-building programme organised by the agency for journalists.
Zamba said that public enlightenment would help accelerate universal health coverage in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the training centred on implementation, benefits and operations of the state’s health insurance scheme.
Zamba, represented by Mr Olatunji Rotimi, Head, Business Development, LASHMA, said the media had a critical responsibility to promote public understanding, trust, acceptability and accountability in the health sector.
She stressed that effective health insurance policies could not succeed without sustained public awareness and participation.
Zamba disclosed that the training was particularly significant to her because of a commitment she made at the National Media Dialogue organised by the International Society of Media and Public Health in Abuja in October 2025.
According to her, she pledged to prioritise capacity building for journalists upon her return to Lagos, recognising the media as a critical partner in advancing health insurance awareness, transparency and accountability.
“Today’s engagement is the fulfilment of that commitment,” she said.
She noted that LASHMA, in collaboration with the society, had trained the first batch of 56 journalists in February 2026.
Zamba commended the Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), Lagos Chapter, and participating journalists for their commitment to the programme.
The LASHMA boss said the state government remained committed to ensuring that all residents, irrespective of their socio-economic status, had access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare.
She recalled that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed an Executive Order on July 16, 2024, making health insurance under Ilera Eko mandatory for all residents of Lagos.
“The order subsequently led to the commencement of enforcement activities across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), while LASHMA continued with public education and confidence-building efforts around the scheme.
“The government has also demonstrated leadership by enrolling all Lagos State public servants under Ilera Eko, with the government bearing 75 per cent of the annual premium while workers contribute 25 per cent,” Zamba explained.
She added that one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund had been dedicated as an equity fund to support vulnerable residents.
The fund, she said, had been increased from N1 billion to N3 billion and approved as a one-line charge by the governor, reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable residents were not excluded from healthcare.
In spite of the measures and innovations introduced to simplify enrolment and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, the LASHMA boss said a significant number of residents remained outside the health insurance net.
She emphasised the need for sustained awareness campaigns and accurate dissemination of information to bridge the coverage gap.
“In a mega-city like Lagos, health insurance is essential to protecting residents from catastrophic healthcare expenses, providing peace of mind, strengthening the health system and promoting sustainable healthcare financing,” she said.
Zamba emphasised that government policies alone could not guarantee universal health coverage, noting that their success depended largely on public understanding, cooperation and participation.
She urged journalists to use their platforms to explain government policies accurately, dispel misconceptions, amplify the impact of health interventions and demand accountability from relevant stakeholders.
The LASHMA director-general described the training as a partnership between the health sector and the media, aimed at promoting factual reporting, constructive criticism, public trust and accurate feedback.
She emphasised that achieving universal health insurance coverage was a shared responsibility involving government, healthcare providers, development partners, residents, the media and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, Mr Adesegun Ogundeji, Coordinating Director, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, said the ultimate objective of Ilera Eko was to ensure that every resident could obtain affordable and quality healthcare whenever the need arose.
According to him, LASHMA has remained committed to implementing the policy since the signing of the executive order.
Ogundeji, however, stressed that beyond enforcement and compliance, residents needed to understand the practical benefits of enrolling in Ilera Eko.
“The applicable premium is N15,000 for an individual, N55,000 for a family of four and N80,000 for a family of six.
“Enrollees can access a broad range of healthcare services, including medical consultations, specialist care, dental and eye services, selected surgeries, and treatment of common illnesses such as malaria and typhoid.
“Other treatment available include management of hypertension and diabetes, emergency services, childhood healthcare, medical tests and prescribed drugs,” he added.
Ogundeji described journalists as critical partners in the implementation of the policy, saying their responsibility went beyond reporting events to shaping public understanding and influencing decisions.
“Through accurate, balanced and consistent reportage, you can help residents understand the importance of health insurance, the benefits of Ilera Eko and how they can access the services available to them,” he said.
He urged participants to actively engage with facilitators, ask questions and seek clarification on areas that could affect accurate reporting of the scheme.
Ogundeji expressed optimism that knowledge acquired during the training would translate into better-informed reportage and increased public awareness of health insurance.
He emphasised that effective communication and responsible journalism would contribute significantly to the state government’s goal of ensuring that every resident of Lagos had access to affordable, sustainable and quality healthcare. (NAN)
