The Federal Ministry of Health has unveiled a new initiative aimed at offering free cesarean sections to poor and vulnerable women across Nigeria.
The initiative, called the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), was launched at the Joint Annual Health Review (JAR) event held in Abuja.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, described the program as a bold step toward reducing both maternal and newborn mortality rates in the country.
He emphasized that the initiative would focus on addressing the high rates of maternal deaths, particularly in areas with the greatest need.
A key aspect of the MAMII program, according to Prof. Pate, is its broad coverage, which includes services offered by both public and private healthcare facilities approved by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
The goal is to ensure that women in underserved regions have access to safe and timely cesarean sections when needed, significantly reducing the risk of maternal mortality.
The minister also highlighted the stark challenge of maternal mortality in Nigeria, noting that 172 local government areas account for more than half of the country’s maternal deaths.
To combat this, MAMII will direct resources to these high-burden areas, prioritizing support where it’s needed most.
Prof. Pate further explained that the NHIA, in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and State Health Insurance Agencies (SHIAs), will manage the reimbursement system, ensuring that healthcare providers can sustainably deliver cesarean section services under the scheme.
In addition, the minister stressed the importance of community health workers in achieving the program’s goals, noting that this aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s plan to recruit 120,000 additional health workers to strengthen primary healthcare across the country.
