The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) led an awareness walk around the Lagos State Government Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday to commemorate the 2025 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, urging residents to enroll in the now-mandatory Ilera-Eko Social Health Insurance Scheme.
The walk, which featured volunteers, partners, stakeholders, and a live band, was organized to sensitize workers, commuters, and community members to the need for accessible and affordable healthcare. Officials distributed stickers and flyers promoting the benefits of social health insurance under the state’s compulsory health-coverage directive.
Speaking during the event, the Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said UHC Day serves as a reminder that healthcare must be seen as a fundamental human right. She emphasised that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order making insurance compulsory is designed to protect families from catastrophic medical costs.
Dr. Zamba explained that Ilera-Eko covers up to 80 per cent of an average resident’s healthcare needs—from primary care to advanced medical services—at an affordable rate. She noted that the scheme aims to prevent residents from slipping into poverty due to hospital bills.
“We want people to make a small, manageable contribution so they can focus on living a quality life without fear of financial ruin from health emergencies,” she said. She urged Lagos residents to “join the Ilera-Eko train” to improve their health and overall well-being.
Head of Planning, Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at LASHMA, Mrs. Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro, said the state government remains committed to ensuring that no resident suffers financially while seeking healthcare. She described Ilera-Eko as the engine driving Lagos toward its universal health coverage goals.
According to her, UHC requires the combined efforts of government, healthcare providers, and the public. She called on residents to embrace the scheme, noting that Lagos is aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is working to strengthen its health system.
LASHMA’s Coordinator of Regulations, Mr. Tosin Awosika, said the agency is intensifying efforts to enforce the mandatory insurance directive. He noted that ongoing field engagements demonstrate the government’s commitment to taking the message directly to the people while ensuring wider coverage across communities.
Awosika added that rising healthcare costs worldwide make social health insurance essential for protecting households from excessive out-of-pocket spending.
The UHC Day Walk ended with continued sensitisation of commuters, business owners, and residents across the Alausa axis as LASHMA reaffirmed that the Ilera-Eko scheme remains central to Lagos State’s plan to ensure that no resident is left behind in access to healthcare.
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