One year after the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate announced the Federal Government’s intervention to reduce maternal mortality through the provision of free emergency obstetric care, including caesarean sections for vulnerable pregnant women, Nigeria is already seeing results in maternal health outcomes from this initiative, which is part of the vision of his Excellency Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to accelerate Nigeria’s progress towards UHC.
The NHIA Financing Access to CEmONC intervention has reached a historic landmark in the journey toward universal health security. Over 32,000 women have already benefited from emergency interventions, representing thousands of lives preserved and families kept whole. This milestone represents 32,000 stories of resilience where the government stepped in to ensure that financial constraints did not result in the loss of a life. The broader story is one of expanding access across the country so that thousands of women receive life-saving care.
Major Milestones: Lives, Facilities, and Growing Coverage
- 32,000+ Mothers Reached: Since the programme was launched, more than 32,000 women and 1,700 newborns have benefitted from emergency obstetric and neonatal services. This remarkable milestone represents real families spared from preventable complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
250+ Facilities Now Implementing Life Saving Services: Across all 36+1 states in Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, a wide network of facilities now offers free emergency obstetric interventions as part of the expanded service delivery framework:
Additional facilities have been approved and are at various stages of activation and readiness more accredited hospitals are still joining the programme, expanding geographic access to emergency care. This growing network ensures that more women in urban and rural areas have access to essential medical and surgical support when minutes count.
A Story of Impact: What This Means for Maternal Health in Nigeria.
These interventions highlight:
· Broader access to emergency obstetric care· Increased hospital capacity to manage critical cases
· Reduced out of pocket costs for indigent families
· A scalable model for continued national impact
Behind every number is a mother whose life was saved, a family kept whole, and a community strengthened. What began as a policy announcement has turned into a tangible good news story of lives reached and services delivered. As implementation continues to grow, so will the impact in ensuring safer childbirth for more women across Nigeria continue.
Continued Growth: More Facilities En Route
The programme continues to expand:
· Facilities are being verified and activated
· Onboarding processes are ongoing
· Training and readiness efforts are happening