…Commissioner urges Lagosians to embrace health insurance scheme
LAGOS, Nigeria – Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, on Wednesday, said that of the 300 plus Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), in the state, about 100 require deep renovation.
Professor Abayomi made this known when the Ministry of Health briefed the press during the 2024 Ministerial Press Briefing held to reel out achievements of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first year in his second term in office.
He noted that the development strategy involves both the construction of new healthcare facilities and substantial renovation.
Abayomi said: “Our infrastructure development strategy involves both the construction of new healthcare facilities and the substantial renovation of existing ones. This dual approach ensures that all facilities—from primary care centers to tertiary hospitals—are equipped to deliver high-quality healthcare services. We have close to 30 high volume General Hospitals in Lagos and we are systematically doing a deep and thorough refurbishment to ensure that eventually we totally modernise all of them.”
Abayomi said that the first batch of facilities that would be renovated are the Lagos Island, Isolo, Harvey, Ajeromi and Ibeju Lekki General Hospitals.
“We have commenced with the first batch of 20 PHC renovations in various locations across Lagos and will continue till all our existing PHCs are in good physical condition.”
On Health Insurance Coverage, Professor Abayomi said the health sector reform is aimed at achieving universal health coverage for all residents.
“This initiative is pivotal in making healthcare services both affordable and accessible, ultimately aiming to protect families from the financial hardships associated with health-related expenses. A major focus of this initiative is the significant expansion of the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS), known as Ilera Eko, to include millions more households. The objective is to drastically reduce out-of-pocket spending on healthcare, which is a common barrier preventing many residents from seeking necessary medical care.
“By broadening the enrollment in this scheme, the government aims to cushion families against the economic impacts of health issues and ensure that no resident forgoes medical services due to cost. The health insurance scheme is structured to provide comprehensive coverage that includes a wide range of medical services—from preventive care and routine check-ups to more complex procedures and emergency medical responses. The benefits package is continuously reviewed and updated to ensure it meets the evolving health needs of the population, reflecting new health trends and technologies.“
