The Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage has signed a historic agreement with market trader unions to extend comprehensive, affordable healthcare services to thousands of informal sector workers across the state.
In a landmark policy drive aimed at eliminating financial barriers to medical treatment for informal sector workers, the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC) has officially extended the state’s health insurance scheme to market traders across the state.
The strategic healthcare expansion was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN) during a ceremony in Enugu.
The agreement establishes a structured framework enabling thousands of low-income traders and their dependent families to access quality medical care without facing catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses during health emergencies.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of ESA-UHC, Dr. Edith Okolo, described the partnership as a historic step toward integrating an underserved segment of the population into the state’s social safety net.
Under the structured payment model, registered traders will pay a modest annual premium of ₦12,000 per person to unlock a comprehensive healthcare package whose total cost far exceeds the token fee.
To ensure seamless administration, NUMTEN will handle the enrollment of its members, collect the annual premiums alongside regular union dues, and remit the funds directly to the agency. Upon processing, ESA-UHC will issue official identification cards granting beneficiaries full access to medical services across any accredited healthcare provider of their choice statewide.
To safeguard service quality and patient dignity, the agency has established rigorous accountability mechanisms to monitor accredited facilities.
Dr. Okolo revealed that ESA-UHC operates a 24-hour control room supported by a dedicated toll-free line to receive real-time feedback and resolve challenges faced by enrollees at point-of-care facilities.
Furthermore, the agency conducts mandatory quarterly training sessions for all accredited medical providers to enforce professional healthcare standards.
Demonstrating a patient-centered approach, the scheme grants beneficiaries complete freedom to choose and switch their preferred hospital, creating a competitive incentive for health facilities to maintain clean environments, short wait times, and courteous treatment.
Reacting to the initiative, the Chairman of NUMTEN in Enugu State, Comrade Ezeoha Eneh, commended the state government for extending vital health coverage to poor and vulnerable informal workers.
Eneh noted that many traders historically avoided medical checkups or concealed serious illnesses due to the high cost of hospital care, asserting that the new insurance scheme will save lives across major commercial centers.
Supported by NUMTEN Treasurer Comrade Cyprian Okoloye, who emphasized the need for prompt responses during emergency cases, the union pledged to roll out extensive grassroots sensitization campaigns across all markets in Enugu State to ensure maximum participation and long-term sustainability of the universal health coverage initiative.
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