By Iyemah David
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) said it is working to turn the tide on maternal mortality in Nigeria with a bold new initiative.
Director-General of NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri said this in an interview on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the new initiative was aimed at providing targeted health financing and insurance to vulnerable women across the country.
In Nigeria, maternal mortality remains a pressing public health issue, with thousands of women losing their lives due to complications during childbirth.
Haemorrhage, hypertension, and sepsis are the leading causes, yet many of these deaths are preventable with timely medical intervention.
Ohiri said that under the NHIA Act of 2022, the Vulnerable Group Fund (VGF) had been established to provide fully subsidised health insurance premiums for women who face financial barriers to accessing maternal care.
He emphasised the importance of this initiative in reducing maternal mortality and ensuring that women receive the care they urgently need.
“The VGF is a game-changer for maternal health in Nigeria. By removing financial barriers, we are ensuring that vulnerable women have access to life-saving health services during pregnancy, childbirth, and the critical postpartum period,” he said.
According to him, the NHIA’s intervention strategy is comprehensive, focusing on four key pillars.
He listed the pillars as, identifying complications early, comprehensive postpartum care, health insurance enrolment and reducing out-of-pocket expense
“By providing timely interventions, health providers can detect and address complications such as haemorrhage or hypertension before they become life-threatening
“Comprehensive postpartum care includes family planning services, health education, and continued monitoring after childbirth to ensure that mothers stay healthy and empowered.
“Enrolling women in health insurance guarantees ongoing care, reducing the chances of future health emergencies due to a lack of financial resources.
“Reducing out-of-pocket expense is a crucial step in protecting families from the financial strain that often accompanies medical emergencies,” he said.
He said that to ensure that the intervention was effectively targeted, the NHIA had partnered with 11 key health institutions across the country.
“These include well-established hospitals in states with high maternal mortality rates and large volumes of maternal services.
“Some of the institutions involved are: “Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom, and Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.
“Others are Maryam Abacha Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Borno,” he said.
Dr Ohiri said that these institutions were selected based on two key criteria: the prevalence of maternal deaths and the volume of maternal services they provide.
He said that this ensured that the most vulnerable women benefited from the initiative, with facilities equipped to deliver comprehensive care.
“The selection of these hospitals was strategic. We are focusing on areas with high maternal death rates and ensuring that the facilities are equipped to deliver the necessary services,” he said.
He said that as the initiative expanded, the NHIA planned to engage more healthcare providers and continue scaling up efforts to ensure that all women in Nigeria have access to the care they need to survive and thrive.
