The Lagos State Government has enrolled a set of quadruplets who lost their mother shortly after childbirth into its health insurance scheme.
The government also presented the family with a cash gift of N250,000 following a Sunday PUNCH report highlighting their plight.
The quadruplets were born on February 27, 2026, at a private hospital in Igando, Lagos.
But their mother, Charity Anani, a 28-year-old teacher from Cross River State, died on April 3 after developing complications that reportedly began with breathing difficulties days after delivery.
However, officials of the Lagos State Health Management Agency visited the family at their residence in Ikotun on Thursday, where they presented food items, baby supplies and a cash donation of N250,000.
The agency also enrolled the three surviving babies, their father and their grandparents into the state’s health insurance programme, ILERA EKO, at no cost.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, Anani expressed gratitude to the state government and LASHMA for the intervention.
“I want to sincerely thank the Lagos State Government and the ILERA EKO team for coming to our aid. They brought food items, Pampers and also gave us N250,000. We are deeply grateful for this support at a very difficult time,” he said.
He also urged Nigerians to embrace health insurance, noting that early enrolment could help families avoid devastating medical expenses.
In a statement, LASHMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Adeyinka Gbemibade, quoted the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Emmanuella Zamba, as saying the intervention was aimed at ensuring that the surviving children have access to quality healthcare despite the loss of their mother.
Zamba described the deaths of Charity and one of the babies as heartbreaking and extended condolences to the family.
She explained that the free health insurance package would enable the children to access treatment at accredited healthcare facilities, receive routine immunisations and benefit from regular health monitoring.
She called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the family, noting that raising triplets under the prevailing economic conditions would require substantial assistance.
Zamba further urged Lagos residents to enrol in ILERA EKO, describing health insurance as a critical safety net against unexpected medical expenses.
“With N15,000 annually, an individual can access quality healthcare services, while families can subscribe under affordable packages designed to reduce out-of-pocket spending and protect households from catastrophic health costs,” she said.
