The Federal Government’s initiative to offer free emergency Cesarean sections (C-section or CS) for poor and vulnerable women in Nigeria who require it is a laudable move to address the nation’s high maternal mortality ratio due to pregnancy-related causes.
Nigeria currently has the fourth-highest maternal mortality rate globally, with a staggering 1,047 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This is a figure that is higher than the regional average, putting Nigeria in the category of countries with extremely high maternal mortality rates.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammadu Ali Pate, announced this in Abuja during the formal launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives, MAMII, project. The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with C-sections and reduce the high number of maternal deaths in the country.
An emergency C-section is a surgical procedure that is utilised to deliver a baby through incisions in the mother’s abdomen and uterus when there are complications that put the health of the mother or baby at risk. It is generally more expensive than the natural birthing process due to the involvement of major surgery and a longer hospital stay. Surgical procedures require specialised equipment, an operating room, and additional medical personnel, all of which increase the overall cost.
Access is generally limited by high cost, hence most women who require this critical lifesaving procedure either cannot afford it or have to pay a huge sum out of pocket.
In a typical government hospital, a basic C-section can cost between N200,000 and N500,000, although complications and additional care can push the cost up to N1,000,000 or more. In a private hospital, the cost of the same procedure can range from N1,000,000 to N3,000,000, depending on the complexity and additional postnatal requirements.
For many pregnant women, a C-section is a lifesaving procedure, even if it comes with significant financial implications such as additional care, and extended hospital stays, that can push the cost even higher.
Based on the premise that no woman in Nigeria should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section, the new policy has received wide praise essentially because it would remove financial barriers to the life-saving surgical procedure and afford more women access to the much sought-after critical care.
The success of this initiative hinges on its effective implementation and assurance that the women who are eligible are afforded prompt access.
Since only women in public hospitals registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, are eligible, it becomes expedient that the coverage of the NHIS must be extended to more women, particularly in the informal sector.
Long-term sustainability requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root causes of maternal mortality. This includes prioritising investment in maternal healthcare education, improving healthcare facilities, and increasing the number of skilled healthcare providers.
To avoid running into stormy waters, the broader healthcare challenges that would ensure the initiative’s effective implementation and lasting positive outcomes must be adequately addressed to guarantee the initiative’s sustainability. The Federal government must implement robust strategies to mitigate these requirements and ensure that the successful implementation of the free emergency C-section initiative is a task that must be done.
