The Global Health Charity and Training Foundation has taken the lead in driving the Inclusive Health Insurance Enrolment Programme, known as I-HELP, to expand healthcare access in Nigeria.
The foundation, in partnership with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, P-SHAN, unveiled the initiative at a high-level fundraising dinner in Lagos.
Lead and Board Member of GHCTF, Dr. Adebayo Akintobi, says the programme is designed to close the healthcare access gap for vulnerable Nigerians.
He explains that the initiative combines health insurance enrolment with free medical services and capacity building.
The programme will be implemented in Lagos, Imo, Oyo, Delta, and Bayelsa states after a successful pilot phase was executed recently in Ogun State.
It targets enrolling at least two thousand indigent individuals per state in the first year.
Beneficiaries will receive free screenings, medications, and access to life-changing surgeries.
The initiative also includes telemedicine services and medical missions led by diaspora professionals.
Dr. Akintobi notes that the programme adopts a sustainable and scalable healthcare model.
According to Dr. Akintobi “This programme brings together expertise and compassion to ensure no Nigerian is denied care due to cost.”
At the launch, the Federal Government also endorsed the initiative as part of efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
The Minister of State for Health Dr Iziak Adekunle Salako who was represented by Mr Ogbonnaya Okpani says millions of Nigerians remain outside the formal insurance system.
He warns that high out-of-pocket payments continue to push households into poverty.
The Minister describes I-HELP as a strategic national tool for social protection and improved health outcomes.
He highlights that only about 21-point-7 million Nigerians are currently insured, mostly in the formal sector.
According to the Salako, “I-HELP is a national pathway to reduce poverty and ensure equitable healthcare access for all Nigerians.”
In the same vein, the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria(P-SHAN) says the initiative reflects a whole-of-society approach to healthcare reform.
Director of Policy and Programmes at P-SHAN, Dr. Anne-Adda Ogo, says collaboration is key to improving Nigeria’s health indices.
She explains that the alliance mobilises private sector resources into impactful health interventions.
She adds that all investments are guided by data, accountability, and measurable outcomes.
Dr. Adda Ogo notes “Together, we can lift the burden on Nigeria’s health system and ensure every naira delivers impact.”
Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, says the programme supports expanded insurance coverage for vulnerable groups.
She notes that philanthropists are being encouraged to fund enrolment for children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
The initiative aligns with national reforms under the current administration to scale up health insurance coverage.
Dr. Tomi Coker says “Health insurance is the most sustainable way to guarantee access to quality care for every Nigerian.”
