The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is transforming maternal healthcare in Nigeria through its Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) programme.
In an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri stated that since the programme’s inception, it has directly saved the lives of 2,819 women, highlighting its significant impact on reducing the country’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
“The CEmONC programme focuses on providing life-saving emergency care for women and newborns, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach areas where access to quality healthcare is a challenge,” he explained.
To enhance its impact, the NHIA is expanding the programme to reach more communities. Currently, 69 tertiary institutions across Nigeria have been identified for programme expansion, and 31 additional healthcare facilities are preparing to join the initiative.
“This expansion aims to ensure that more women and newborns across the country can benefit from timely and high-quality emergency care,” he disclosed.
Ohiri acknowledged that financial barriers and infrastructural challenges have long hindered women’s access to vital maternal healthcare. “Through the CEmONC programme, the government is collaborating with healthcare providers and stakeholders to improve the affordability, access and availability of services,” he said.
Discussing the programme’s achievements, he asserted, “This is only the beginning. Our goal is to ensure that no woman or newborn dies from preventable causes, and we are committed to eliminating every barrier to quality maternal healthcare in Nigeria.”
The programme also promotes community engagement and health education, empowering women to seek care earlier and understand the importance of skilled healthcare services during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Testimonials from beneficiaries illustrate how the initiative has saved lives and provided hope for families who previously lacked access to emergency care,” he noted.
According to Ohiri, the NHIA’s CEmONC programme is a crucial step towards achieving Nigeria’s health sector goals, including the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
“As the programme expands, it promises to create a brighter and healthier future for mothers and newborns across Nigeria. This life-saving initiative exemplifies what can be achieved when the government, healthcare providers, and communities work together to address pressing health challenges. With thousands of lives already saved, the NHIA’s CEmONC programme is setting a new standard for maternal and newborn care in Nigeria,” he added.
