In a renewed push toward achieving universal health coverage in Lagos State, the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) has engaged Community Development Council (CDC) chairmen across the state in a strategic collaborative session to drive grassroots enrollment into the ILERA EKO Health Insurance Scheme through the newly established ILERA N’ TIWA Cooperative and Multipurpose Society Ltd.

The Permanent Secretary of LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, who led the session at the Agency’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja, said the meeting was designed to strengthen partnership with community leaders and deepen residents’ participation in the social health insurance scheme.

Zamba, who was represented by the Coordinator of Regulations at LASHMA, Mr. Tosin Awosika explained that the ILERA N’ TIWA Cooperative was conceived as a financial inclusion strategy to promote flexible health insurance payments and provide socio-economic support to enrollees. “Through this cooperative model, residents can pay their ILERA EKO premiums in bits — what we call the ‘pay small-small’ method — while still enjoying full health coverage, loan access, and empowerment opportunities,” Zamba stated.

Highlighting the legal framework and policy backing the initiative, the Permanent Secretary recalled that the Lagos State Health Scheme Law of 2015 paved the way for the establishment of LASHMA, the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS), and the Lagos State Health Fund (LASHEF). She added that the recent executive order mandating compulsory enrollment under the ILERA EKO scheme was a bold step by Mr. Governor toward protecting residents from catastrophic health spending.

According to her, “With over 1,000 enrollments already recorded through the cooperative, this innovation has the potential to accelerate universal health coverage, improve household welfare, and reduce poverty across communities.” Dr. Zamba appealed to CDC chairmen to become ambassadors of the initiative in their localities, describing the cooperative as a “financial lifeline that blends social protection with economic empowerment.”

Also speaking, Mr. Rotimi Olatunji, Head of Business Development and Marketing at LASHMA, gave an overview of the ILERA N’ TIWA Cooperative, describing it as an innovative bridge between healthcare access and financial empowerment. He said the cooperative was launched in December 2024 to address payment defaults among enrollees and strengthen retention within the ILERA EKO scheme, particularly among informal sector workers.

Olatunji outlined the cooperative’s flexible payment structure, which allows individuals to join with a ₦1,000 registration fee and monthly contributions starting from ₦4,500 for individuals and ₦10,500 for a family of four. “Beyond healthcare access, members enjoy dividends on savings, referral bonuses, food bank access, and loans up to twice their total contributions after six months,” he said.

He further noted that the cooperative offers two types of loans — regular cooperative loans available after six months of savings, and special intervention loans ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦250,000 with a one-year repayment plan at just 9% interest. “Our goal is to make ILERA EKO affordable and convenient for everyone. Whether you are a trader, artisan, or civil servant, you can pay gradually and still enjoy full coverage for a year,” he emphasized.

In her presentation, Mrs. Bunmi Peters, LASHMA’s Emergency Care Officer, provided an in-depth explanation of the Standard Jaara Health Plan — one of the major packages under ILERA EKO. She described the plan as a comprehensive, people-centered health insurance product designed to provide access to quality and affordable care for all Lagos residents.

Mrs. Peters highlighted the wide range of services covered under the plan, including outpatient care, treatment for chronic conditions, maternal and child health services, eye and dental care, surgical interventions, laboratory investigations, and pharmaceutical access. “Every enrollee is entitled to preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care — all anchored on quality and affordability,” she said.

She further disclosed that the plan integrates telemedicine through ILERA EKO’s Virtual Booths (V-Booths) located across markets and communities, offering residents 24-hour access to doctors, health checks, and counseling. “This innovation ensures that no Lagosian is too far from healthcare. With technology, we are bringing hospitals closer to homes,” Peters added.

In his remarks, Mr. Tosin Awosika, Coordinator of Regulations at LASHMA, lauded the CDC chairmen for their active participation and pledged continued collaboration with community stakeholders. He stressed that partnerships like this were key to the success of health interventions at the grassroots level. “With your support, ILERA EKO and ILERA N’ TIWA Cooperative will reach more households, ensuring no resident is left behind,” Awosika affirmed.

He urged community leaders to act as ambassadors of the scheme, championing awareness and mobilization within their respective local government areas. “We count on you to spread the word, encourage your members to enroll, and join us in building a healthier Lagos,” he said.

In an interview, Mr. Amusat Azeez, Chairman of the Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, commended the Lagos State Government and LASHMA for initiating a programme that combines healthcare access with economic empowerment. He described the cooperative as a welcome development for grassroots residents.

According to him, “The ILERA N’ TIWA Cooperative offers not only health insurance but also opportunities for people to access low-interest loans, which can help our youths start small businesses and become self-reliant.” He assured that CDC leaders would take the message back to their communities to ensure mass participation.

Azeez concluded by applauding Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his vision and commitment to inclusive healthcare, stating that the initiative “is a testament to Lagos State’s determination to make quality healthcare accessible, affordable, and sustainable for every resident.”

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