Lagos State has taken a strong stand against rising medical bills, declaring “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!” as the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) rallied residents to embrace the now-mandatory Ilera-Eko Social Health Insurance Scheme during a UHC Day awareness walk in Alausa, Ikeja.
The procession took the message directly to commuters, workers, and community members, with information materials widely distributed.
Leading the walk, LASHMA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, said Universal Health Coverage must be treated as a fundamental human right, not a luxury.
She urged all Lagos residents to enroll in Ilera-Eko, describing it as the strongest protection against catastrophic medical expenses and assuring residents that the scheme exists to secure their health and financial future.
Dr. Zamba emphasized that the executive order signed by Babajide Sanwo-Olu makes social health insurance compulsory for every resident, underscoring government’s determination to eliminate financial hardship linked to healthcare.
She explained that Ilera-Eko covers up to 80 percent of an average resident’s healthcare needs, from primary to tertiary care, at affordable rates.
Also speaking, Mrs. Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro, Head of Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at LASHMA, said UHC Day is a global reminder that no one should face financial ruin for seeking healthcare.
She described Ilera-Eko as the engine driving Lagos toward its UHC goals and stressed that success requires collaboration among government, healthcare providers, employers, and residents.
Addressing participants, LASHMA’s Coordinator of Regulations, Mr. Tosin Awosika, said enforcement and compliance efforts are being intensified to expand coverage statewide.
With healthcare costs rising globally, he noted that Lagos is adopting a proactive model that reduces out-of-pocket spending while improving access, reaffirming the state’s commitment to leaving no resident behind through Ilera-Eko.
Reporting by Julie Ekong