FG Designates 172 Hospitals For Free Obstetric Care, VVF

Federal government has designated 154 health facilities across the country to provide free treatment for women experiencing obstetric complications, including cesarean sections.

The coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Professor Ali Pate, disclosed this during an interview on ‘Politics Today’ monitored on Channels Television by our correspondent.

Pate also said the federal government had identified 18 centres that would provide free treatment for women suffering from vesico vaginal fistula (VVF), a severe childbirth-related condition that affects at least 10,000 women annually.

He said the programme aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of Nigerians, particularly women facing life-threatening pregnancy complications.

The minister said the designated facilities would be reimbursed for services rendered, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent women from accessing life-saving procedures.

He reiterated that the move was part of broader health sector reforms, with the government working alongside the Health Insurance Authority to mobilise resources and sustain the initiative.

VVF, a condition where a hole forms between the bladder and the vagina due to prolonged or obstructed labour, often leads to continuous urine leakage, social stigma and rejection by families.

Professor Pate acknowledged that many affected women had been unable to afford surgical repairs for years.

“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,” he noted.