With 2,819 women already benefiting under the pilot phase and over N87 million disbursed to cover life-saving procedures, the programme promises a lifeline for expectant mothers facing complications.

In response to a recent report by The Guardian, the NHIA said approximately N87,460,716.59 has been disbursed for the Supporting Financial Access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) initiative in pilot facilities.

The programme covers the total cost of treatment for the five leading causes of maternal deaths in Nigeria: haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, sepsis, post-abortion complications, and obstructed labour.

The NHIA noted that the programme’s first phase was launched in August 2024 at four healthcare facilities in Kano and Akwa Ibom states. These are Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, and the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

The second phase was expanded to seven additional healthcare facilities across Bauchi, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Borno states. As of December 2024, five of the seven facilities have been reporting data on the programme. These are the Federal Teaching Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Kebbi; Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto; Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi. The remaining facilities are the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

The NHIA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 42 referral facilities across all geopolitical zones between September and December 2024. Eleven of these facilities have started sending claims and receiving payments after verification.

The agency is also engaging the Committee of Chief Medical Directors for Tertiary Hospitals to onboard more tertiary facilities into the programme. Of the 69 eligible tertiary institutions in the country, the NHIA signed a tripartite MoU with 12, while 19 are in the process, and 31 are awaiting feedback.

In December 2024, State Commissioners of Health nationwide were informed about the programme, even as NHIA state offices have opened communication with state ministries of health to submit lists of secondary and private healthcare facilities interested in the programme. Upon receipt of these documents, selected facilities will officially be engaged through MoU signing.

The 31 tertiary facilities that have signed MoUs are the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Abakaliki, Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido-Ekiti, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, University College Hospital in Ibadan, Federal Medical Centre in Nguru, and the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife.

Others are the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi, Federal Medical Centre in Gusau, Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina, Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Federal Medical Centre in Ikole-Ekiti, National Orthopaedic Hospital in Benin City, Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia, Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, Federal Medical Centre in Bida, Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kudu, and Rasheed Shekoni Federal University Teaching Hospital in Dutse.

Additional facilities are David Umahi University Teaching Hospital in Uburu, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital in Abakaliki, Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa, Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado-Ekiti, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital in Yola, and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

The Guardian had earlier disclosed delays in the awareness campaign and roll-out of the Federal Government’s free Caesarean Section, CS, initiative. The report noted that doubts were raised about the laudable initiative aimed at reducing the high maternal mortality in the country. It highlighted that the initiative, announced in November last year, had failed to come upstream about three months later.

Pregnant women who spoke with The Guardian described the move as a welcome development, though they were sceptical of its effective implementation. At a Primary Healthcare Centre in Kuchingworo, a rural settlement near the Abuja City Gate, an expectant mother, Aisha, said she heard about the free CS about five weeks earlier but was unsure if the implementation had started.

She said: “The plan is excellent, but you know that in this country, the government always makes promises, but at the end of the day, you will not hear about it again. That was how they promised to sell 50kg of rice to us at N40,000. Up till now, we have not seen the rice. The government should keep to its promise because CS is expensive, and many women cannot afford it, especially in the villages.”

A civil servant, Mrs. Anaesthesia, pregnant with her first child, told The Guardian that the initiative is good but didn’t pray to deliver via CS. One of the nurses in the facility said she was happy when she heard the news about the free CS on the radio because of the challenges some women go through in general hospitals.

“We usually refer pregnant women to the General Hospitals when we find out that they cannot deliver by themselves due to one health issue or another, but most of them encounter severe delays because they don’t even have money to pay for the procedure.

“Our prayers are that the government starts the programme because it will have a lot of benefits for our women. It will reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as reduce their financial burden.” (The Guardian)