The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a groundbreaking initiative to provide free treatment for women with pregnancy complications, including free cesarean sections. This move aims to reduce the number of deaths associated with obstetric complications, ensuring that no woman dies due to lack of affordable healthcare.
According to Professor Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the health and wellbeing of Nigerians are fundamental to President Bola Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria. The government has mobilized resources, working with the Health Insurance Authority, to ensure that empaneled facilities can reimburse costs, alleviating the financial burden on women seeking treatment.
The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to reform the health sector and improve maternal health outcomes. By providing free treatment for pregnancy complications, the government hopes to reduce the number of maternal deaths and improve the overall health and wellbeing of Nigerian women.
This move is a significant step towards achieving the government’s vision for a healthier Nigeria. With this initiative, women with pregnancy complications can access the medical care they need without worrying about the financial burden, ultimately saving lives and improving health outcomes.In addition to free cesarean section, the Minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is also offering free treatment for women with vesicovaginal fistula (VVF).
He said, “vesicovaginal fistula is a complication of pregnancy and delivery, and at least 10,00 women annually get those complications. “They leak urine, there are all kind of stigma in their families, many of them are young women, they get discouraged by their families and they cannot afford the care, and its care is surgical care that requires competency and facility that knows how to take care of them, but it costs money.
“For a very long time, many women suffered from that without the opportunity to have those repairs. We took it upon ourselves to ensure whoever has VVF will have a surgical repair and that will be paid for by the government.”
The Minister added that about 2,000 women have already been repaired and it’s very touching seeing them expressing gratitude for the life-changing opportunity that they have.
Also on the programme, the Health Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has enlisted 154 health facilities across Nigeria for free treatment of women who have obstetric complications.
He also announced 18 centres across the nation for free treatment of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). According to Pate, the facilities have quality manpower, rich standard and equipment.
