The Nigerian government has declared free Cesarean sections to women in need, as part of its efforts to reduce the country’s maternal mortality rate. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, made this known in Abuja on Thursday.
The initiative was launched on the second day of the first Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review scheduled to hold for 3 days in Abuja.
A tweet from the official X handle of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stated, “In a powerful move, Coordinating Minister @muhammadpate just announced that Cesarean Sections (C-section) for all Nigerian women who need them will now be FREE!”
The free C-sections are expected to address the poor and vulnerable women who meet the eligibility criteria, as no woman should lose her life because of the high cost of the procedure.
He also said this coverage extends to services offered in both public and private facilities accredited by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Cesarean section is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through an incision in the abdomen and uterus, typically when healthcare providers determine it’s safer for the mother, baby, or both.
Despite the necessity in many cases, the high cost of a C-section in Nigeria has long been a major barrier, preventing many women from accessing this critical care during childbirth.
The cost of a C-section in some private hospitals in Nigeria ranges from N500,000 to N1,000,000, while in government owned hospitals, it costs about N200,000.
This financial burden not only jeopardises the health of mothers and babies but also perpetuates the inequality in access to maternal healthcare services especially as many do not have access to these funds.
As the Minister had earlier noted, maternal mortality rate accounts for 50% of maternal deaths in the country from 172 local governments in the country.
Mr Pate noted that the NHIA, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and State Health Insurance Agencies, will manage the reimbursement process, ensuring that providers across both sectors can sustainably deliver these essential services.
The issue remains that most communities have access to primary health care centers where these cesarean sections are not carried out.
Fairview had earlier interviewed a doctor in Yobe state and he had discussed the lack of equipment and technical hands to conduct the procedure in those locations.
By focusing resources on high-burden areas, the new initiative will address the need of these areas.
