Health
Rhodes-Vivour, Sanwo-Olu clash over Lagos Health Insurance Scheme
The 2023 governorship candidate of Labour Party, LP, in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has clashed with the Lagos State government over the Social Health Insurance Scheme recently introduced in the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently signed an Executive Order establishing a mandatory Social Health Insurance Scheme for all residents of Lagos State, regardless of income level. According to the governor, the scheme will provide universal health coverage to Lagosians, ensuring access to quality healthcare services.
However, this move has sparked concerns among many Lagosians, who argue that the flat rate is unsustainable for low-income earners and would further exacerbate economic hardship. Others have also questioned the timing and prioritisation of the scheme, given the state’s existing healthcare infrastructure challenges.
It is against this backdrop that Rhodes-Vivour has spoken out against the scheme, proposing alternative solutions and calling for a more equitable and effective approach to universal health coverage in Lagos.
Reacting via his X handle, the LP candidate argued that the N15,000 annual contribution would exacerbate economic hardship for minimum wage earners, who would spend nearly 20 per cent of their income on the payment.
He proposed a proportional 5% contribution of monthly income instead, ensuring a fairer distribution of financial responsibility across income levels.
“This flat-rate approach reveals a fundamental disconnect from the economic realities facing most Lagosians. For minimum wage earners, this N15,000 contribution represents nearly 20% of their income—an unsustainable burden that will push many further into economic hardship,” Rhodes-Vivour said.
He also emphasised the need for substantial investment in healthcare infrastructure and personnel, citing a deficit of 30,000 doctors in Lagos State. “Before mandating and enforcing such an Executive Order, substantial investment in healthcare infrastructure and personnel is imperative. We must address the elephant in the room and resist the urge to place the cart before the horse,” Rhodes-Vivour stressed.
According to him, the Sanwo-Olu administration must adopt the 2014 Abuja Declaration, which recommends allocating 15 per cent of the state budget to healthcare. “In 2024, the Lagos State government fell short of this laudable vision by allocating only 6.75% of its budget to healthcare,” he noted.
In response, Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Sanwo-Olu, clarified that the N15,000 contribution is an annual premium, not a monthly payment.
“The social health insurance plan of Lagos State has an ANNUAL premium of N15,000 only per individual and NOT MONTHLY as stated by you,” Akosile said.
He explained that the scheme is mandatory for all Nigerians under the NHIA Act of 2022 and highlighted the state’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible.
According to him, the government has allocated an equity fund to cover vulnerable residents and has invested in healthcare infrastructure, including the construction of Mother and Child Care hospitals.
He also mentioned the establishment of a dedicated Lagos State University of Medicine and Health Sciences to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, while emphasising that the scheme will “cover a wide scope of services, both primary and secondary, tailored to serve the health needs and address the disease burden of the state.”
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, yesterday participated in the inauguration, first capping, and matriculation ceremony of the Mother of Mercy College of Nursing Sciences, Mbutu-Okohia, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, where he personally capped the institution’s pioneer nursing students.
In her address, Provost of the college, Rev. Sr. Tochukwu Martha Ike, described the event as the realisation of a long-held vision by the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy (DMMM) to widen access to quality nursing education.
According to her, the college was established in response to the country’s urgent demand for well-trained and compassionate nurses, especially in underserved areas.
Sr. Ike noted that the institution had already recorded notable milestones, including full accreditation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and commencement of a Basic Nursing Programme supported by a qualified academic and administrative workforce.
She reaffirmed the college’s dedication to evidence-based and community-centred nursing practice.
Acknowledging the challenges confronting the young institution — particularly in infrastructure development, facilities upgrade, and funding, she expressed optimism that continued support from government and donors would help position the college as a leading centre for healthcare training.
Addressing the students, Obi congratulated the pioneer set and urged them to uphold the values of discipline, compassion, and integrity that define the nursing profession.
He described nurses as the “heartbeat of functional healthcare systems,” and encouraged the students to pursue excellence and lifelong learning in service to humanity.
He also commended the DMMM Congregation for its significant contributions to education and healthcare, noting that faith-based institutions continue to play a crucial role in reinforcing Nigeria’s social foundations.
The ceremony concluded with expressions of appreciation to community leaders, government officials, benefactors, and stakeholders for their support towards establishing the college, which is expected to contribute significantly to healthcare development in Imo State and beyond.
Serenity Royale Hospital has refuted claims that it conducted any drug-related tests on actress Regina Daniels.
The hospital said this in a public statement released on Thursday evening, following the trending medical report allegedly from the hospital confirming Regina Daniels’ drug addiction.
Recall that Regina Daniels’ estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko had accused her of drug addiction and insisted that the actress must submit herself for rehabilitation.
The accusation came after Regina called out the Senator for domestic abuse amid their ongoing messy breakup.
However, laboratory tests purportedly conducted by the hospital surfaced on the social media on Wednesday, showing toxic levels of marijuana, cocaine, morphine, opiates, and alcohol in her system.
Denying conducting any test on the actress, the hospital stated that the alleged medical report was fabricated.
Speaking in a statement signed by its management, the hospital said “Our attention has been drawn to a post (on an alleged MID TERM HOME DETOX REPORT) being circulated online in the name of Serenity Royale Hospital with respect to Mrs Nwoko Regina.
“We wish to state clearly that the publication and circulation of the said post containing classified information did not emanate from us and respectfully request the public to disregard same.”
Suspended Paystack co-founder, Ezra Olubi has in a tweet revealed he was diagnosed as having both HIV+ and Hepatitis B.
He stated this in a post he shared on his X page some years ago which has now resurfaced online.
Recall that Olubi was recently suspended by Paystack over allegations of s3xual misconduct after his tweets of years ago resurfaced online.
It was gathered that between 2009 and 2013, Ezra Olubi allegedly posted a series of s3xually explicit tweets making comments involving minors and referencing s3xualized anime characters.
One of the tweets read: “Last time I felt this way and went to the hospital for a general checkup, I was diagnosed as both HIV+ and with Hepatitis B.”
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