The Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA) has launched the nationwide rollout of free Caesarean Sections (CS) in additional than 100 hospitals throughout the nation.
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-Basic of the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA), informed the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that the intervention is a part of the Complete Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Programme.
He famous that the programme is at the moment energetic in federal, state, personal, and faith-based hospitals throughout all six geopolitical zones.
Based on Dr. Ohiri, indigent girls solely have to current their Nationwide Identification Quantity (NIN), both earlier than or after admission.
He defined that the hospital’s social welfare group is accountable for verifying whether or not a affected person is unable to afford the surgical procedure.
“As soon as assessed, eligible girls obtain the Caesarean Part for gratis and are mechanically enrolled in a medical insurance plan beneath the Fundamental Well being Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which is managed on the state degree,” he said.
Dr. Ohiri said that the NHIA is partnering with federal, state, faith-based, and personal well being services to scale back maternal mortality throughout the nation.
He mentioned, “The nationwide protection consists of key well being establishments throughout varied areas.
“Within the North-West, services equivalent to Aminu Kano Instructing Hospital and Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in Kano; Usmanu Danfodiyo College Instructing Hospital and Maryam Abacha Girls and Kids Hospital in Sokoto are a part of the programme.
“Others embody Ahmad Sani Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital in Gusau, Zamfara; Basic Hospitals in Kaura Namoda, Shinkafi, and Tsafe, all in Zamfara; in addition to Martha Bamaiyi Basic Hospital in Zuru, Kebbi State.
“Within the North-East, beneficiary hospitals embody the Federal Instructing Hospital, Gombe; College of Maiduguri Instructing Hospital, Borno; Federal College of Well being Sciences Instructing Hospital, Azare, Bauchi; Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe; and Modibbo Adama College Instructing Hospital, Yola, Adamawa,” he added.
He added that the area additionally has the College of Calabar Instructing Hospital, Cross River.
Dr. Ohiri said that within the South-East, the programme covers the Federal Instructing Hospital, Abakaliki; David Umahi College Instructing Hospital, Uburu; and NOFIC Abakaliki, all in Ebonyi State. It additionally consists of Irrua Specialist Instructing Hospital and University of Benin Instructing Hospital, each in Edo State.
He additionally listed a number of faith-based and personal services beneath the initiative, together with St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kaduna; St. Patrick Hospital, Abakaliki; Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital, Kaduna; and Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial Hospital, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
He revealed that over 200 extra hospitals are at the moment awaiting NHIA approval to affix the initiative, which may considerably develop entry.
“This initiative is a important a part of the federal government’s dedication to ending preventable maternal deaths.
“The free CS providers will not be restricted to federal services; state-owned, personal, and mission hospitals have been engaged to succeed in as many ladies as potential,” he added.
Dr. Ohiri emphasised that there isn’t any formal registration course of required to learn from the protection.
“So long as a girl presents her NIN and is assessed by the hospital’s social welfare unit as financially incapable, the surgical procedure can be provided freed from cost,” he mentioned.
He urged Nigerians to extensively share this data, significantly in rural and underserved communities the place the price of surgical supply typically poses a barrier to secure childbirth.
