November 11, 2025
The Enugu State Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC) has recorded remarkable growth in its health insurance scheme, enrolling 220,000 residents since its inception in 2020. The initiative aims to provide affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens of the state.
Dr. Edith Okolo, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of ESA-UHC, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Enugu, noting that enrolment into the health insurance scheme has significantly increased in 2025 due to intensified sensitisation and rural mobilisation efforts led by local government chairmen.
Okolo urged residents to register for the health insurance scheme by paying a subsidised annual premium of N12,000, which grants access to essential healthcare services that would otherwise cost much more in private hospitals.
She explained that the agency’s primary goal was to ensure that every Enugu resident benefited from accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare through a basic minimum package that includes preventive, curative, and maternal services.
“The N12,000 annual premium provides coverage for surgical cases with hospital admissions of up to 20 days and medical cases up to 15 days each year. It also covers cesarean sections, helping women deliver safely at accredited facilities,” Okolo stated.
According to her, the health insurance scheme continues to expand its hospital network, engaging both public and private healthcare providers, including faith-based institutions, to deliver quality services. She stressed that enrollees have the freedom to choose their preferred hospitals, ensuring transparency and patient satisfaction.
She said ESA-UHC had simplified the registration process to encourage more people to join the health insurance scheme, with awareness campaigns ongoing across all 17 local government areas.
Okolo highlighted that Enugu operates two complementary health insurance schemes: the ESA-UHC and the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), both funded by federal and state health authorities.
She explained that while ESA-UHC serves the general population, the BHCPF focuses on vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five, persons with disabilities, and elderly residents aged 85 and above.
“These programmes are specifically designed for the poor and vulnerable in our communities. Currently, about 54,000 vulnerable persons are receiving healthcare under the BHCPF programme,” Okolo revealed.
She noted that registration often takes place through community outreach initiatives and the state’s social register, which helps identify residents in need of healthcare support under the health insurance scheme.
Okolo emphasised that the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2021 made health insurance mandatory for all Nigerians, adding that ESA-UHC has been actively educating residents on its long-term benefits.
She also revealed that initial public skepticism about accessing quality healthcare with a N12,000 premium had gradually faded, thanks to numerous success stories from beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme.
Okolo announced that ESA-UHC would host a Universal Health Coverage Summit from December 8 to 12 to further promote enrolment and enhance public awareness about the importance of the health insurance scheme in achieving equitable healthcare for all. Visit GMTNewsng for more news