Lagos state hospitals offer free antenatal, delivery services

General Hospitals and Primary Health Centres in Lagos State are currently providing free antenatal care and child delivery services to pregnant women, as part of measures to ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal on residents.

Dr Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, said this during compliance monitoring visits to some state hospitals including the Ifako-Ijaiye and Isolo General Hospitals.

The implementation of the free antenatal care and child delivery services would help improve maternal and child health indices in Lagos.

Ogboye expressed satisfaction at the level of compliance to the directive, noting that the government recognises the prime place of maternal and child health in the society.

“The governor recognised that the cost of antenatal care and child delivery services would add to the burden of fuel subsidy removal on cost of living for expectant parents.

“This is why the governor announced the free medical intervention as part of the rolled out measures to ease off the burden.

“I am impressed by the level of compliance to Mr Governor’s free antenatal and child delivery service directive at the health facilities visited.

“Having gone round the ANC clinics, post-delivery wards and baby nurseries at the Ifako-Ijaiye and Isolo General Hospitals, it is heart-warming to see the smiles on the faces of newly born and their parents.

“I would like to thank the management of these hospitals and the health workers for quickly putting in place modalities and carrying out the Governor’s directive to the letter.

“This is an indication that all government institutions are in sync regarding the harsh reality of fuel subsidy removal and the intervention to ameliorate the suffering of citizens,” he said.

Ogboye noted that the medical intervention would cover the cost of antenatal care including cost of registration and ANC clinics, as well as normal and caesarean section child delivery services.

According to him, the health intervention which seeks to increase access to quality maternal and child health services, is in line with the state government’s Universal Health Coverage attainment drive.

He added that the government had over the years been putting in place various health strategies and initiatives geared towards providing succour to the poor and less privileged in the society who require health care services.

Ogboye restated the commitment of the present administration to the provision of access to quality and efficient health care services.

The permanent secretary also assured of the government’s commitment to evolve strategies geared towards the reduction and eradication of maternal, child and infant mortality, as well as improved maternal and child health indices.

Also, Dr Bamidele Mustapha, the Medical Director, Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, said about 30 women registered at the hospital had benefited from the free antenatal and child delivery services including cesarean sections, at no cost to the beneficiaries.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, on July 31, directed general hospitals and primary healthcare centres to offer free antenatal care and child delivery services to expectant mothers.