Nigeria has introduced a plan to provide free emergency Caesarean sections for "poor and vulnerable" women, aiming to reduce the country's high maternal death rate. Nigeria currently ranks fourth worldwide for maternal mortality.
With a maternal mortality rate of 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, Africa's most populous country ranks fourth globally in maternal mortality. Limited access to Caesarean sections is considered one of the contributing factors.
In rural Nigeria, many expectant mothers cannot obtain urgent medical care due in part to high costs. Health Minister Muhammad Pate emphasized in announcing a “significant initiative” that no woman should lose her life simply due to an inability to afford a C-section. Although the cost of a Caesarean varies across Nigerian states, it averages around 60,000 naira ($36; £28), which is often unaffordable for many.
According to 2023 data from Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics, over 40% of Nigerians live below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day. The recently launched Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative will now enable eligible women to receive Caesarean sections at public hospitals.
To qualify, women must be enrolled in the country’s public health insurance scheme.
Pate further stated that by eliminating financial barriers to this vital procedure, the initiative ensures that no woman requiring it is denied essential care due to cost.
Remarks From Some Official
Tashikalmah Hallah, a communication advisor to the health minister, explained that the health scheme only covers emergency cases.
He also mentioned that social welfare units in public hospitals will assess eligibility and identify those unable to afford the procedure.
Pate emphasized that maternal mortality rates remain "unacceptably high."
Caesarean sections are considered crucial in preventing obstructed labour, particularly when the woman's pelvis is too small, the baby is in a breech position, or is too large to pass through the birth canal. Without intervention, a restricted baby can cause fatal uterine rupture or severe tears that lead to dangerous bleeding.
Trina Haque from the World Bank described the new initiative as a potential game-changer while offering support. WHO country representative Kazadi Mulombo emphasized that, if implemented correctly, the initiative could make a significant impact, with full backing from their team. Maternal deaths are caused by factors such as severe haemorrhage, high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), unsafe abortions, and obstructed or prolonged labor.
Rhoda Robinson, executive director of HACEY, an NGO focused on healthcare access for vulnerable populations in Nigeria, highlighted that the new policy will improve maternal and child health outcomes, particularly for women in low-income communities who often turn to unsafe alternatives for care.
Mabel Onwuemena, national coordinator of the Women of Purpose Foundation, another NGO advocating for improved maternal health access in Africa, commended the initiative and urged the Nigerian government to expand it to cover free medications and ultrasounds for pregnant women.
About Caesarean Section
A Cesarean section, or C-section, is a surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through cuts made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. It is usually done when vaginal birth poses risks to the mother or baby, or if complications occur during labour.
Some reasons for a C-section include fetal distress, abnormal baby positioning, placental problems, and a history of previous C-sections.
C-sections can either be scheduled or emergency procedures. Scheduled C-sections are done when there are indications that a vaginal birth may be unsafe, while emergency C-sections are performed when complications arise during labour.