Coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has said that Cesarean Sections (C-sections) will now be free for vulnerable Nigerian women who require the procedure.
Pate disclosed this during the ongoing three-day Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in Abuja, where he also launched the “Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative” on Thursday.
The new initiative aims to significantly reduce maternal and newborn mortality across the country.
A tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare highlighted the announcement, stating: “In a powerful move, Coordinating Minister @muhammadpate just announced that Cesarean Sections for all Nigerian women who need them will now be FREE!”
The minister stressed, “No woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section.”
The main goal of the Joint Annual Health Review was to assess Nigeria’s healthcare system comprehensively, identify its challenges, and implement effective solutions to ease the physical and financial burdens on Nigerians.
In a post on his own personal X handle, Pate further explained that the free C-sections would primarily benefit poor and vulnerable women who meet eligibility criteria.
He said this includes services in both public and private healthcare facilities accredited by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Prof. Pate also noted that maternal mortality remains alarmingly high, with 172 local government areas accounting for more than 50 per cent of maternal deaths, stressing that the initiative will focus resources on the high-risk areas.
The NHIA, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and State Health Insurance Agencies, will oversee the reimbursement process, ensuring that healthcare providers across both public and private sectors can deliver these essential services sustainably.
Pate also emphasised the important role of community health workers in this initiative. He said they will help increase demand for maternal care services, educate families on the importance of antenatal care, and ensure mothers are aware of available healthcare services.
This, he said aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to onboard an additional 120,000 health workers to support primary care across Nigeria.
He also expressed gratitude for the support from development partners whose resources, expertise, and alignment with Nigeria’s health priorities have been crucial in making this announcement possible.
He called on all stakeholders, including state governors, healthcare leaders, community members, and health workers to actively support and help drive the success of this initiative.
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