Expert urges FG to create guidelines for free cesarean section  

A Professor of Paediatrics, Prof. Chinyere Ezeaka, urged the Federal Government to create an articulated framework for the implementation of the free cesarean section to be offered to pregnant women.

Ezeaka, Head of Neonatology-Perinatology Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), appealed in Lagos.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, on Nov. 7, said that free cesarean section was part of the government’s efforts to tackle Nigeria’s maternal and neonatal mortality rates, which rank among the highest globally.

Pate explained that the government would ensure that no woman in need was denied critical care due to cost by removing financial barriers to life-saving procedures, through the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII).

The minister said the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and state health insurance agencies, would manage the reimbursement process.

Commending the government’s plans, Ezeaka, however, pointed out that such policy statements required clear guidelines for its implementation at every level of care.

Ezeaka noted that doctors and medical directors of health facilities had been asking a series of questions following the government’s announcement.

“At which level of care are we talking about? Is it in the budget? Who’s picking the bill? What is the route for referral?

“What level of information has been given to heads of health facilities across the country?

“We have seen situations where HMOs don’t offer certain tests to enrollees to now add cesarean section to it; we must be clear.

“This is because we don’t want to have a situation where a mother would require a cesarean section and the facility does not want to incur the cost because the government would not back up that payment.

“These mothers would now be denied that service and compromise the lives of these babies,” she said.

Ezeaka stressed the need for robust engagement between NHIA, health management organisations (HMOs) and heads of public and private health facilities to ensure sustainable delivery of essential services.

In addition, Ezeaka urged the government to extend support beyond the free cesarean section, to the care of the babies till their discharge from health facilities.

She emphasised that the initiative would reduce the country’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rate and increase the number of hospital births.

According to her, financial constraints had been a major impediment that kept many pregnant women away from hospital services.

Ezeaka stressed the need to create awareness about the initiatives for pregnant women to enable them to benefit from the initiative.