The Lagos State Government has renewed its call on residents to enrol in the Lagos Health Scheme (LSHS), popularly known as Ilera Eko, to improve access to quality healthcare and prevent financial hardship arising from medical emergencies.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, made the appeal during a two-day capacity-building workshop for journalists on the Lagos Health Scheme. She described Ilera Eko as mandatory for all residents, stressing that it now serves as a gateway to accessing healthcare services in state-owned facilities.Dr. Zamba explained that the scheme places strong emphasis on maternal and child health, noting that services such as caesarean sections, which could cost between ₦500,000 and ₦1 million in some facilities, are subsidised under the plan. She added that flexible instalment payment options have been introduced in consideration of prevailing economic realities.She further stated that pregnant women must attend antenatal care for at least five months to qualify for certain benefits, explaining that this helps health professionals identify high-risk cases early and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.Also speaking, the Coordinator of Regulations at LASHMA, Mr. Tosin Awosika, said the success of the scheme depends largely on the number of residents enrolled. According to him, health insurance thrives on large participation, as increased enrolment translates to improved funding, better equipment, and enhanced training for healthcare workers.Awosika noted that greater participation would significantly reduce out-of-pocket spending while strengthening service delivery across primary and secondary health facilities. He added that the state government has established an equity fund, representing one per cent of its consolidated revenue, to cover premiums for vulnerable residents who cannot afford to pay.On enforcement of the “No Insurance, No Service” policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at LASHMA, Mr. Kehinde Doudu, clarified that residents would not be arrested for non-compliance but would be denied access to government-owned health facilities if they fail to enrol.Providing an overview of the scheme, the Head of Ilera Eko Medical Services, Dr. Olugbenga Fadipe, described health insurance as a safeguard against poverty, warning that rising medical costs pose serious risks to household finances. He said the scheme guarantees access to essential services, including primary healthcare, specialist consultations, dental and eye care, physiotherapy, and annual wellness screenings.Dr. Fadipe added that more advanced services such as cancer care, dialysis, and screening become accessible after the second year of continuous enrolment, emphasising that the programme ensures residents can access necessary healthcare services regardless of their financial status.