Key points
- Enugu State has extended its health insurance scheme to market traders through a partnership with NUMTEN.
- Registered traders will pay an annual premium of ₦12,000 for access to healthcare services.
- NUMTEN will enrol members, collect premiums and remit them to the Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage.
- The scheme is expected to improve healthcare access for low-income traders across the state.
Main story
The Enugu State Agency for Universal Health Coverage (ESA-UHC) has expanded its health insurance programme to include market traders, with beneficiaries expected to pay an annual premium of ₦12,000 for access to affordable healthcare services.
The initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between ESA-UHC and the National Union of Market Traders Employers of Nigeria (NUMTEN) in Enugu.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ESA-UHC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Edith Okolo, described the agreement as a significant step towards extending health insurance coverage to an underserved segment of the population.
Okolo said registered traders would pay an annual premium of ₦12,000, which NUMTEN would collect alongside members’ union dues before remitting the funds to the agency.
She explained that beneficiaries would receive identity cards enabling them to access services at any accredited healthcare provider under the scheme, with ESA-UHC settling the medical bills.
According to her, the agency also plans to extend the programme to cover family members of enrolled traders.
Okolo said the state government remained committed to ensuring that market traders had access to affordable and quality healthcare, adding that ESA-UHC had established a 24-hour control room and toll-free line to handle complaints and improve service delivery.
She also noted that accredited healthcare providers receive quarterly training to maintain quality standards, while beneficiaries would be free to choose their preferred accredited health facility.
Chairman of NUMTEN in Enugu State, Comrade Ezeoha Eneh, welcomed the partnership, describing it as a major intervention for low-income traders who often struggle to afford medical treatment.
He said the union would embark on extensive sensitisation campaigns across markets to encourage enrolment and ensure the success of the programme.
Also speaking, NUMTEN Treasurer, Comrade Cyprian Okoloye, commended ESA-UHC for its commitment to transparency and accountability and urged the agency to sustain prompt responses to beneficiaries, particularly during medical emergencies.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would improve healthcare access for traders and strengthen the state’s universal health coverage programme.
The issues
Most Nigerians in the informal sector pay for healthcare out of pocket, making medical treatment unaffordable for many low-income households. Expanding health insurance to market traders could reduce financial hardship, improve access to healthcare and support the state’s universal health coverage objectives.
What’s being said
“Registered traders will pay an annual premium of ₦12,000 per person and have access to a comprehensive healthcare package that costs much more than the premium.” — Dr Edith Okolo, Executive Secretary, ESA-UHC
What’s next
ESA-UHC and NUMTEN will begin enrolling traders across markets in Enugu State, while the agency plans to expand the scheme to include family members of beneficiaries.
Bottom line
By extending health insurance to market traders, Enugu State is seeking to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs and bring affordable medical coverage to more people in the informal sector.
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