Nigeria to provide free Caesarean Sections for women

November 08, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Nigerian Government has announced plans to offer free caesarean sections to women.

This aims to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates in the country.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced on Thursday that free caesarean sections would be provided to Nigerian women in need.

A tweet posted on the official X handle of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stated, “In a powerful move, Coordinating Minister just announced that Caesarean Sections for all Nigerian women who need them will now be FREE!”

He said, “No woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section.

“By removing financial barriers to this life-saving procedure, we ensure that no woman in need is denied critical care due to cost. Maternal mortality remains unacceptably high, with 172 local governments contributing to over 50 per cent of maternal deaths.

“By focusing resources on these high-burden areas, MAMII will address the greatest areas of need. The NHIA, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and state health insurance agencies, will manage the reimbursement process, ensuring that providers across both sectors can deliver these essential services sustainably.”

The prevalence of caesarean sections in Nigeria is relatively low, standing at 2.1%. Urban residence, maternal age of 35 or older, large birth size, and multiple births are factors associated with increased odds of caesarean sections.

However, there are disparities in access to this life-saving procedure, with rural-urban and regional differences observed.

The Government’s decision to provide free caesarean sections is a crucial step towards addressing these disparities and ensuring that all women have access to quality healthcare.

This move is particularly important in Nigeria, which has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.