The Federal Government, in collaboration with private sector stakeholders, has launched an initiative aimed at expanding access to health insurance among vulnerable Nigerians.
The programme, known as the Inclusive Health Insurance Enrolment Programme, is being driven by the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation in partnership with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos, the Executive Director of GHCTF, Dr Adebayo Akintobi, said the initiative was designed to enrol indigent citizens into state-backed health insurance schemes while strengthening healthcare delivery across all levels.
He explained that the programme leverages the expertise of Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora to enhance capacity within the country’s health institutions.
Akintobi noted that groundwork for the initiative began about three years ago, focusing on training and support for local healthcare providers.
He disclosed that the foundation had earlier conducted a medical outreach at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, where dozens of surgeries were carried out across various specialties.
According to him, the intervention also included diagnostic procedures and training for medical personnel, adding that the facility now has improved capacity to handle advanced procedures.
He further said community outreaches were held in parts of Ogun State, where residents were screened for ailments such as hypertension, diabetes and hepatitis, with free medications provided to diagnosed patients.
Akintobi added that about 2,000 individuals were enrolled in the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme during the exercise.
Also speaking, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, described the initiative as a major step towards improving healthcare access for underserved populations.
She said the programme encourages individuals and organisations to sponsor health insurance for vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, the elderly and rural dwellers.
Coker noted that the initiative aligns with national efforts to achieve universal health coverage, lamenting that only a small percentage of Nigerians are currently enrolled in health insurance schemes.
She urged citizens to take advantage of available platforms to register and access quality healthcare services.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Dipo Odewale, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and impactful.
She emphasised the role of Nigerians in the diaspora in supporting the country’s healthcare system through knowledge transfer and partnerships.
In her remarks, the Director of Policy and Programmes at PSHAN, Dr Anne Adah-Ogoh, called for greater collaboration across sectors to improve health outcomes.
She said the alliance mobilises private sector resources to support public health interventions, including its Adopt-A-Primary Healthcare Facility Programme.
According to her, the initiative is currently operational in several states, with plans to expand nationwide to ensure broader access to functional healthcare centres.
The IHIEP is expected to be rolled out across participating states, with beneficiaries enrolled through accredited state health insurance schemes.
