In the dim, anxious hours of dawn, 35-year-old Mrs. Hauwa Usman Gambaki’s cries echoed a story too many women know, but too few survive. A story of pain, courage, and hope hanging by a thread. Like countless expectant mothers across Nigeria, she had faced the unthinkable, the uncertainty of childbirth without the certainty of care. But this time, something was different, thanks to the National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) Comprehensive Emergency Maternal, Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) programme, a flagship initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
While Nigerians, alongside critics and public affairs analysts examine the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and assess the general state of the nation, particularly in the health sector, one initiative stands out. The National Health Insurance Authority’s (NHIA) Comprehensive Emergency Maternal, Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) programme, a flagship under the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, has done more than rescue a woman from the jaws of risk, it has delivered a future, quadruplets.
In what many hail as a defining milestone, the Comprehensive Emergency Maternal, Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) programme of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), launched under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is proudly celebrating this feat , which is its first recorded delivery of quadruplets in Azare local government area of Bauchi State.
For them, the remarkable event reaffirms the programme’s mission, which is pushing that no woman should face childbirth alone, and no child should be born without a fighting chance.
The joyous mother, Mrs. Hauwa Gambaki, who could hardly contain her excitement, expressed deep gratitude for being safely delivered of a set of quadruplets, with every cost, from surgery to medication and blood transfusions, fully covered. Her case marks her as one of the first beneficiaries of the CEmONC programme.
When LEADERSHIP Sunday visited Gambaki, a small village located 35 kilometers from Azare, a community where life remains simple yet often harsh, Hauwa, already a mother of five, told our correspondent that she had carried the pregnancy with quiet strength and silent hope.
According to her, unlike many expectant mothers in the cities, she had no access to proper antenatal care. Each day was a test of faith, as she held on to the hope that her unborn child or children would arrive safely.
She said, “Then, one night, my worst fear became reality. I started bleeding heavily. My husband, a peasant farmer with barely enough to provide for the family, felt his heart sink. He had little money in his pocket and no assurance of what awaited us at the hospital.”
“But even in his confusion, my husband knew one thing, he couldn’t sit by and watch me and our unborn children slip away. Fueled by desperation, but anchored in hope, he set out on the long journey from our village to the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Azare (FUHSTHA). And as God would have it, what awaited us there was nothing short of a miracle.”
“At FUHSTHA, doctors and nurses quickly attended to me. Guess what? I was diagnosed with severe blood loss and was immediately prepared for surgery. What had been expected to be triplets turned out to be quadruplets, two boys and two girls!” Hauwa said, beaming with joy.
Despite the risks, Hauwa was safely delivered through a caesarean section, supported by timely blood transfusions and essential medications.
Interestingly, the most moving part, according to Hauwa, was that not a single kobo was paid. In her words, ‘Every cost, from surgery to medication, blood transfusions’, and even her stay in a free amenity ward was fully covered under the CEmONC programme.
For Mrs. Hauwa and her husband, who could never have afforded such specialised care, this was more than just medical assistance, it was a lifeline, a gift of life, and a shield against tragedy.
For the humble Gambaki farming family, the CEmONC programme is not just a government policy, but a bridge between despair and hope, between death and life.
LEADERSHIP Sunday notes that their experience stands as a true testament to the impact of the result-oriented programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises improved healthcare and the safety of mothers and children.
When contacted, the director general of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, emphasised the importance of protecting citizens from financial hardship in accessing care.
He said, “People paying out of pocket is very scary and not the way to go. This is why institutions like the NHIA exist to ensure Nigerians are protected from financial hardship when seeking care.”
Dr. Ohiri explained that the programme aligns with the broader vision articulated by the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He described it as a national commitment to expanding healthcare coverage for all Nigerians.
He said, “For 30 years or so, Nigeria has been trying to expand health insurance as a way of efficiently mobilising resources. However, this administration, over the last two years, has repositioned the NHIA to be a strong regulator. We’ve seen an acceleration in the pace of insurance coverage in Nigeria, in collaboration with the states.”
“Now, as that is happening, we need to further accelerate the pace. We are now at 20 million Nigerians enrolled in health insurance, this is the first time we’ve ever reached that number. A few years ago, it was just 16 million. So, we have enrolled four million in two years. Many states are all moving in the right direction.”
Echoing the director general’s statement, NHIA assistant director in Bauchi State, Shamsuddeen Yahaya, said the vision had become a tangible reality in Bauchi State with the successful delivery of quadruplets. He confirmed that the beneficiary received comprehensive, surgical care at absolutely no cost under the CEmONC programme. Yahaya described the achievement as a true “national success story.”
Meanwhile, LEADERSHIP Sunday observed that the hospital community also rallied around the Gambaki family. The chief medical director’s wife, hospital staff, and other well-wishers were seen gifting the family essential baby-care items, ensuring that the quadruplets and their mother were not only safe but welcomed with warmth and dignity.
Today, Hauwa is recuperating. Her babies are feeding well. And her husband, the once anxious and uncertain father, now wears a smile filled with relief, gratitude, and renewed faith.
While expressing appreciation for the love shown to his family, Mr. Gambaki said, “And for Nigeria, this stands as proof that when leadership meets compassion, even the most vulnerable among us can share in the promise of a better tomorrow.”
Two residents of Azare, Aisha Musa and Ibrahim Bello, while expressing their joy and hope for the future said,“This is a blessing for our community. It shows that with the right support, miracles happen here too,” Aisha said with a bright smile.
Ibrahim added, “For so long, we feared childbirth because of the risks. But now, seeing how Hauwa and her babies were cared for, I feel hopeful that things are truly changing for the better.”
The founder of the ‘Save Child, Save Mother Initiative’ in Bauchi State, Fatima Lawal, also praised the programme’s success. In her words, “The delivery of quadruplets under the CEmONC programme is a remarkable milestone. It is proof that dedicated government policies combined with community engagement can save lives. This gives us all renewed hope that maternal and child health in Bauchi is on a promising path.”
