Nigeria TV Info Report

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the federal and state governments to extend free medical services to indigent pregnant women across the country, stressing that this remains the most effective way to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria.

Falana, who made the call in a statement on Sunday in his capacity as Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), referenced recent initiatives by health authorities aimed at reducing maternal deaths.

He recalled that in November last year, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, announced that free caesarean sections would be provided to Nigerian women in need, under the “Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.”

Falana further noted that in April this year, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) confirmed it had commenced free caesarean sections for pregnant women in more than 100 hospitals nationwide.

According to him, the Director-General of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, explained that the intervention was being carried out under the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Programme.

While acknowledging these initiatives as proof of the government’s commitment to tackling maternal and newborn deaths, Falana emphasised that they must be expanded beyond their current scope to cover all indigent pregnant women across Nigeria.