By Ganiyat Mumuni
Healthcare stakeholders, government officials, development partners, and private sector players have launched the Inclusive Health Insurance Enrolment Programme (IHIEP), an initiative aimed at expanding access to affordable healthcare services for vulnerable Nigerians across selected states.
The programm spearheaded by the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation (GHCTF) in collaboration with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) seeks to enrol indigent individuals into approved State Health Insurance Schemes while strengthening healthcare delivery at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Speaking at the official launch held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island . The Executive Director and Board Member of the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation Dr. Adebayo Akintobi, said the initiative was designed to leverage the expertise of Nigerian doctors in the diaspora to build healthcare capacity across the country.
According to him, the foundation began the project about three years ago, focusing on improving healthcare delivery and building local capacity within Nigeria’s health institutions.
“This initiative is put together by the Global Health Charity and Training Foundation in collaboration with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria. Doctors in the diaspora want to bring their expertise back to Nigeria to help build capacity among colleagues in secondary hospitals and teaching hospitals,” he said.
Akintobi explained that the foundation previously conducted a medical outreach at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, where 79 surgeries were successfully carried out across specialties including orthopaedic, cardiothoracic, urology, and general surgery.
“In addition to the surgeries, we conducted about 50 gastro colonoscopies and endoscopies to screen for colon cancer. We also worked directly with medical students, resident doctors, and consultants, helping the hospital build capacity. The hospital can now conduct hip replacement surgeries, which they were not doing before,” he said.
He added that the initiative also extended to community outreach across Iperu, Sagamu, Owu, Ake and Ake Abeokuta in Ogun State, where residents were screened for hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, and hepatitis.
“We screened residents in four locations, provided two months of free medication for those diagnosed with medical conditions, and enrolled about 2,000 individuals into the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme,” he added.
Also speaking, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, described the initiative as a major step toward improving access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.
“The Inclusive Health Insurance Improvement Programme is a way of giving back, sponsored by a global charity organisation in collaboration with PSHAN. The aim is to encourage philanthropists to sponsor health insurance enrolment for vulnerable people, particularly children under five, pregnant women, the elderly, and residents in rural communities,” she said.
She noted that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s national health insurance policy and ongoing healthcare reforms aimed at improving access to quality and affordable healthcare.
“Currently, less than five percent of Nigerians are enrolled in health insurance. I encourage Nigerians to enrol through their nearest primary healthcare centres or state health insurance offices. Health insurance ensures access to quality healthcare regardless of financial ability,” she added.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa represented by Mr Dipo Odewale commended the initiative and described it as a timely intervention.
“Access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for a few but a fundamental right enjoyed by all. This initiative directly addresses the gaps that have long prevented vulnerable and underserved populations from accessing essential health services,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the importance of diaspora contributions to national development, noting that knowledge transfer, investment, and partnerships from Nigerians abroad remain vital to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
She further stressed the need for collaboration among government institutions, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and civil society to ensure sustainable healthcare delivery and improved health outcomes nationwide.
Director of Policy and Programmes, Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), Dr. Anne Adah-Ogoh during her presentation highlighted the importance of collective responsibility in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“I think one common thing that everyone in this room shares is the desire to see healthcare improve in Nigeria. We want our health indicators to improve. We want the status quo to change and we do not want Nigeria to continue leading from behind in global health indices,” she said.
Dr. Adah-Ogoh stressed that improving healthcare outcomes requires innovative thinking and collaboration across sectors.
“If we want to do things differently, we must think outside the box. We need a whole-of-society approach and a whole-of-government approach. If collectively we lift this burden, it becomes easier to improve healthcare outcomes across the country,” she added.
She noted that PSHAN mobilizes private sector resources to strengthen public health programmes, ensuring sustainable, cost-effective, and efficient healthcare delivery.
“At PSHAN, we pool private sector resources through the Private Sector Health Alliance Trust, and these resources are deployed into public health programmes that strengthen the healthcare system and ensure every investment makes a meaningful impact,” she explained.
Dr. Adah-Ogoh also highlighted PSHAN’s flagship initiative, the Adopt-A-Primary Healthcare Facility Programme, which aims to ensure that every Nigerian lives within five kilometres of a functional primary healthcare centre.
“If we strengthen primary healthcare centres, we can solve up to 80 percent of healthcare challenges. This reduces pressure on secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions and improves overall healthcare delivery,” she said.
She disclosed that PSHAN is working toward establishing at least one functional primary healthcare centre in each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
“Currently, the programme is operational in about 30 states, and we continue to expand to ensure more Nigerians have access to quality healthcare services,” she added.
The Inclusive Health Insurance Enrolment Programme is expected to commence implementation across participating states, with beneficiaries to be enrolled through accredited state health insurance schemes.
Stakeholders and dignitaries present were;
Commissioner for Health in Lagos State,Professor Akin Abayomi represented by Director of Business Development Lagos State Health Management Agency, Mr. Rotimi Olatunji;Chief Executive Officer of One Stop Rx, Mr. Femi Dominic;Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako represented by the Assistant Director of the Lagos Zonal Office of the National Health Insurance Authority, Mr. Ogbonaya Opani;Chief Executive Officer,Nigerian’s Indiaspora Commission, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa represented by Mr Dipo Odewale; Director, Policy and programs ,private sector health alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) Dr Anne Adah-Ogoh amongst others .
