President Bola Tinubu’s administration through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has announced that Nigerian women who require cesarean sections (CS) will now be able to access the procedure at no cost.
Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, made the declaration during the second day of the Joint Annual Review (JAR) conference.
He explained that the initiative, part of the new Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) project, ” Under the initiative, cesarean sections and essential maternal care would be provided free of charge to eligible women across the country.
“The new policy is designed to ensure that women who need C-sections, either due to complications or as part of planned deliveries can access the procedure without financial obstacles.”
“The initiatives will also address Nigeria’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates by improving access to quality healthcare, enhancing primary health care (PHC) services, and increasing community engagement, “he explained
Also, in a statement posted on the official X handle of the Presidential Media Team on Thursday, November 7, it was stressed that Nigeria continues to struggle with high maternal and neonatal mortality rates, recorded at 512 deaths per 100,000 live births and 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, respectively.
Additionally, the uptake of essential health services remains low across the country.
The MAMII project is designed to address these challenges by increasing access to quality healthcare, strengthening primary health care (PHC) services, and encouraging broader community participation in healthcare programmes.