Focal Person, Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics Healthcare, CEOC and Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF, in Bauchi State, Dr Hasan Shuaibu, said 377 mothers benefitted from the free Federal Government Cesarean Section, CS, initiative in four months.
Shuaibu, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Bauchi, yesterday, added that the statistics was for Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, recently announced free ceaseran section for pregnant women in all government hospitals in Nigeria during the Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review.
He made the pronouncement after launching the Maternal Mortality Reduction Initiative, MAMII, a groundbreaking effort by the ministry to tackle maternal and neonatal mortality rate in the country, which is among the highest globally.
The focal person, therefore, said 154 health facilities have been earmarked to provide free Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care and Vesicovaginal Fistula surgeries, introduced by the federal government to reduce the burden of maternal mortality for mothers.
He added that the initiative was to prevent maternal death through the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA.
He explained that “CEOC was designed to provide care for women including blood transfusion, severe infections, cesarean section, among others.
“A total of 337 mothers benefitted from the free cesarean section at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital from November 2024 to February 14.”
According to him, four hospitals were equally nominated to commence the programme across the three senatorial districts.
Shuaibu said “mothers can begin to access care from the early stage of pregnancy.
“The initiative will be extended to other health institutions across the three senatorial zones.
“The facilities include the Federal University of Science Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi Specialist Hospital, General Hospital, Toro, General Hospital Itas Gadau and General Hospital, Misau.
“The facilities were selected based on high burden areas on maternal death.
“Beneficiaries and their babies will also enjoy free care on any life threatening disease for six weeks from the date of delivery.”
The focal person also noted that beneficiaries will be enrolled in the Bauchi State Health Contributory Agency to benefit from the Basic Healthier Provision Fund in 323 facilities going on in the state. NAN
