Amidst notable advances in Nigeria’s health system, health insurance continues to confront credibility issues. A broad majority of Nigerians are not familiar with state-backed insurance programmes.
Lagos’ ILERA EKO (meaning —healthiness of Lagos) has failed to catch on. Those working in the informal sector have no knowledge about how the scheme benefits them.
As one of the largest African cities, Lagos faces communication gaps that limit health outcomes.
Because of weak communication and misinformation, low-income earners in the state are made to pay out-of-pocket for expensive medication.
This poses a hurdle to the state’s ambition of achieving universal health coverage.
In response, the Lagos State Health Management Agency, or LASHMA, launched ILERA EKO Spotlight.
Billed as the country’s first insurance radio, the digital station is designed to pass real-time insights about health insurance and preventive care. The radio runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. each day.
In a bid to bridge linguistic divides, the platform is aired in both Yoruba and Pidgin English, marking a fundamental shift in public-health messaging. What’s more, residents can consult doctors from home or the workplace through the ILERA EKO Telemedicine Service.
Market women, artisans and civil servants who often wait endlessly at hospitals now have virtual booths installed in local markets, which allow them to consult with medical specialists in a matter of minutes.
The initiative joins a litany of other digital interventions accelerating healthcare access within the state.
Expanding national health insurance
Still Lagos is not alone in this digital health revolution. In Ekiti State, the state government launched a dedicated WhatsApp channel to deliver health information and updates directly to residents of Ekiti, energizing digital engagement in public health.
Also, organisations such as CARE Nigeria have piloted WhatsApp-based chatbots for immunisation information, demonstrating how mobile platforms can support maternal and child healthcare messaging.
Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Authority, or NHIA, is leveraging social media and SMS messaging to simplify the insurance registration process.
Lagos’ ILERA EKO Spotlight stands out for being an always-on radio hub dedicated exclusively to health insurance education and access.
For all its promise, the project faces familiar challenges. Internet coverage around some Lagos neighbourhoods remains patchy.
Along with funding, sustaining daily, high-quality programming requires technical capacity and long-term audience engagement.
And then there’s a catch: are Lagosians likely to change their behaviour towards the insurance system?
Summary not available at this time.
