The Lagos State Government has expanded the Equity Fund for its mandatory health insurance scheme, ILERA EKO, from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion to support vulnerable residents. The announcement was made by Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), during a two-day capacity-building programme for media executives held at LASHMA’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
ILERA EKO is the state’s official social health insurance scheme, designed to provide affordable and quality healthcare to all residents. Zamba emphasized the importance of mandatory health insurance, urging the media to intensify awareness campaigns and accountability reporting to protect residents from catastrophic health costs. She noted that one per cent of the state’s Consolidated Revenue Fund has been earmarked as an Equity Fund, reinforcing government commitment to inclusivity.
“All public servants in Lagos are enrolled under the mandatory ILERA EKO scheme, with the state covering 75 per cent of the annual premium and employees contributing 25 per cent,” Zamba explained. Referencing the Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in July 2024, she added that enforcement of mandatory health insurance is expected to extend to all sectors of the state starting April, with education and public engagement prioritized.
The programme also highlighted the role of the media in shaping public understanding and policy. Moji Makanjuola, Executive Director of the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH), urged journalists to simplify health financing processes and spotlight gaps between policy promises and realities.
Mr. Tosin Awosika, Coordinator of Regulations at LASHMA, reiterated that ILERA EKO is legally mandatory for all residents. He stressed that its success depends on widespread enrollment and that the scheme provides access to primary care, specialist consultations, maternal and child health services, surgeries, and emergency care at accredited facilities.
Stakeholders at the workshop emphasized that the mandatory nature of ILERA EKO aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending, prevent medical-induced poverty, and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare across Lagos State.
