The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has unveiled a bold initiative to reduce maternal mortality in Nigeria through targeted health financing and insurance for vulnerable women nationwide.
Director-general of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Abuja.
Science Nigeria reports that maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge in Nigeria, with thousands of women dying annually due to complications during childbirth. Leading causes include haemorrhage, hypertension and sepsis, many of which are preventable with timely medical care.
Ohiri explained that the NHIA Act of 2022 established the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF), which provides fully subsidised health insurance premiums for women facing financial barriers to accessing maternal healthcare.
“The VGF is a game-changer for maternal health in Nigeria,” Ohiri stated. “By removing financial barriers, we’re ensuring that vulnerable women have access to life-saving health services during pregnancy, childbirth and the critical postpartum period.”
Comprehensive Intervention Strategy
The NHIA’s intervention focuses on four key pillars:
1. Early Identification of Complications: Timely interventions enable healthcare providers to detect and manage issues like haemorrhage or hypertension before they become life-threatening.
2. Comprehensive Postpartum Care: Services include family planning, health education, and ongoing monitoring to ensure mothers remain healthy and empowered.
3. Health Insurance Enrolment: Enrolling women in health insurance ensures continued care, reducing the risk of future health emergencies due to financial constraints.
4. Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenses: This critical step protects families from the financial burdens often associated with medical emergencies.
Strategic Partnerships
To ensure the initiative’s success, the NHIA has partnered with 11 key health institutions across Nigeria, focusing on states with high maternal mortality rates and significant maternal healthcare demand.
Some of the participating institutions include:
– Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano
– University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom
– Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto
– Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto
– University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno
“These institutions were selected based on two key criteria: the prevalence of maternal deaths and the volume of maternal services they provide,” Ohiri explained. “This ensures that the most vulnerable women benefit from the initiative and that facilities are equipped to deliver comprehensive care.”
Expanding the Initiative
As the programme progresses, NHIA plans to engage more healthcare providers and scale up efforts to ensure that all Nigerian women have access to essential maternal care.
For many women in Nigeria, accessing maternal healthcare has been hindered by financial and logistical challenges. The introduction of the VGF offers a lifeline, saving lives while alleviating the financial burden of pregnancy and childbirth.
Health experts have praised the initiative. A public health consultant, Dr. Rashida Yusuf remarked, “This targeted approach is exactly what Nigeria needs.”
Yusuf highlighted that focusing on vulnerable populations and removing financial barriers aligns with global health targets, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of reducing maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
“With the VGF, the NHIA is taking a crucial step towards that goal, offering hope for a future where no woman dies from preventable causes during childbirth,” Yusuf said.
