By Sola Ogundipe
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has tasked journalists with driving public awareness and uptake of the state’s mandatory health insurance scheme, warning that the policy cannot succeed if residents remain uninformed or distrust the system.
The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, who gave the charge at a two-day capacity-building programme for journalists on the Lagos State Health Scheme and Ilera Eko, said the media must become a stronger force for explaining health insurance, challenging misinformation, exposing gaps and holding institutions accountable.
“Policies alone do not guarantee success; their effectiveness depends on understanding, cooperation and participation, the media therefore has a critical responsibility to explain policies accurately, dispel myths, amplify impact and hold institutions accountable.”
Her message came as the state pushes ahead with mandatory health insurance for all residents under an Executive Order signed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on July 16, 2024.
“In a megacity like Lagos, health insurance is essential to protecting residents from catastrophic healthcare expenses, providing peace of mind, strengthening the health system and promoting sustainable healthcare financing,” she said.
She urged journalists to use their platforms to explain what ILERA EKO offers, how residents can enrol and access services, while also questioning shortcomings that could undermine confidence in the scheme.
Zamba said LASHMA was investing in media capacity because public awareness and trust would determine whether mandatory health insurance translated into actual coverage.
The agency trained additional 36 journalists following the 56 trained in February 2026 under the first phase of the initiative.
The journalists, their family members and dependants, received one year of free health insurance coverage from LASHMA.
The state has also increased its Equity Fund for vulnerable residents from N1 billion to N3 billion, financed through one percent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
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