With more than 13 million residents already enrolled in Lagos State’s health insurance scheme, ILERA Eko, the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) is intensifying efforts to bring every Lagosian on board — and is calling on the media to help lead the charge.
At a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists, organised in partnership with the International Society of Media and Public Health (ISMPH) and EngenderHealth Consortium, LASHMA stressed that sustained awareness and accurate reporting are critical to achieving universal health coverage in the state.
From Policy to Mandatory Coverage
In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuela Zamba, explained that ILERA Eko was introduced in 2015 as part of the Lagos State Government’s commitment to ensuring that every resident — regardless of socio-economic status — has access to quality healthcare.
That commitment was further reinforced when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed an Executive Order on July 6, 2024, making ILERA Eko mandatory for all residents of Lagos State.
While enforcement has begun across government institutions and agencies, Zamba emphasized that education, engagement, and public confidence-building remain top priorities.
“We are not focused on enforcement alone. We want people to understand the value of the scheme and willingly participate,” she said.
She announced that all public servants in Lagos State are now covered under ILERA Eko, with the government paying 75 percent of their contribution, while workers pay the remaining 25 percent.
In addition, four percent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund has been earmarked as an equity fund to support vulnerable residents. The fund was recently increased from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion — a clear signal of the government’s resolve to make affordable healthcare accessible to all.
Flexible Plans for Every Income Level
During a detailed presentation on ILERA Eko’s health plans and benefit packages, agency officials highlighted the scheme’s inclusiveness. Plans range from ILERA Eko Jara and Student plans to tertiary plans, family packages for four and six members, as well as Standard Jara and Standard Jara Plus options.
For those in the informal sector, LASHMA introduced a flexible payment model known as Ilera N’Tiwa Cooperative Multipurpose Society (ITCMS). Through this cooperative structure, members contribute daily according to their means. Monthly deductions are then made to service their ILERA Eko subscription, while the remainder of their savings — along with added benefits — remains theirs.
Members of the cooperative enjoy:
- Full benefits of the Standard Jara plan
- Access to loans after six months of active membership
- Referral cash rewards
- Food bank access
- Travel and lifestyle preventive health programmes
- Dividends on savings
- Special intervention loans from the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF)
Wide Network of Healthcare Access
Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe explained that ILERA Eko services are available across a broad network of public and private facilities in the state, including:
- 25 General Hospitals
- 207 Primary Health Centres
- Two Federal Medical Centres
- 249 Private Hospitals
- Eight Dental Clinics
- 22 Diagnostic Centres
- 11 Eye Clinics
- Three Nursing Homes
This expansive coverage, he noted, ensures that residents can access care conveniently across Lagos.
Transparent Registration and Ethical Reporting
On enrollment procedures, Head of Sales and Agents Coordination, Miss Uche Igweonyia, warned residents against making cash payments to agents. All payments, she stressed, must be made online, with instant confirmation and enrollment within seconds.
She also highlighted the availability of an online radio platform where residents can access up-to-date information about the scheme.
Coordinator of Regulations, Mr. Tosin Awosika, reminded participants that health insurance enrollment is now mandatory and urged residents to discard misconceptions about the scheme.
“ILERA Eko is designed to reduce the financial burden of medical care. It is for everyone,” he said.
The workshop also featured a session on ethical reporting of health insurance issues, led by Mr. Boniface Khassan, equipping journalists with the tools to communicate complex health policies accurately and responsibly.
Held at LASHMA’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, the well-attended workshop provided an interactive platform for journalists to seek clarifications and deepen their understanding of the scheme.
As LASHMA pushes toward universal enrollment, its message is clear: sustainable healthcare coverage in Lagos will require not just policy enforcement — but informed storytelling, trusted communication, and a strong media partnership.