By Ken Chiwendu
The Nigerian Government has launched an initiative to provide free cesarean sections for poor and vulnerable women across the country.
The initiative tagged Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) was launched during the Joint Annual Health Review ( JAR) organised by the ministry in Abuja.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate who made this known described the initiative as an ambitious commitment to reducing maternal and newborn mortality across Nigeria.
He said a pivotal feature of the initiative is that it covers services provided through both public and private facilities empanelled by the National Health Insurance Authority ( NHIA).
Pate said maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, with 172 local governments contributing to over 50% of maternal deaths.
According to him,by focusing resources on these high-burden areas, MAMII will address the greatest areas of need, adding that the NHIA, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and State Health Insurance Agencies (SHIAs), will manage the reimbursement process, ensuring that providers across both sectors can deliver these essential services sustainably.
The minister also said community health workers play a crucial role in this mission, in line with President Bols Tinubu’s initiative to onboard 120,000 additional health workers to support primary care across Nigeria.
