While the Minister of Health’s commitment to providing free cesarean sections for Nigerian women is a positive step forward, reducing maternal mortality requires a more comprehensive approach.
Development Diaries reports that the initiative, under the newly launched ‘Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative’, aims to ensure that no woman loses her life if she cannot afford a life-saving surgery.
However, while such a declaration is significant, it is crucial to recognise that merely making C-sections free will not be sufficient to resolve the deep-seated issues within Nigeria’s health care system.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently reported a maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births in Nigeria, the fourth highest on earth.
This is a cause for concern and why the initiative must be complemented by substantial investments in health care infrastructure, skilled personnel, and adequate supplies, especially in under-resourced primary healthcare facilities.
One of the key challenges facing Nigeria’s health care system is the lack of well-equipped health care centres, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
For this initiative to be truly effective, the government must invest in upgrading the infrastructure of these facilities to ensure that they can support the increased demand for C-sections.
Without modern surgical equipment, functional operating rooms, and reliable power supply, even free surgeries cannot be safely conducted.
A well-intentioned initiative will fall short if the hospitals meant to deliver these services are not adequately prepared to handle complications that may arise during such procedures.
In addition to infrastructure, there is an urgent need to invest in training and retaining skilled health care professionals, particularly obstetricians, anesthetists, and nurses.
A shortage of qualified personnel in many parts of the country, coupled with poor working conditions, often leads to substandard maternal care.
Therefore, the health ministry, led by Muhammad Pate, needs to prioritise the continuous training of health care workers and provide incentives to encourage them to work in less privileged areas where maternal mortality rates are often highest.
Also, consistent access to essential medical supplies and medications is vital for the success of any surgical procedure, including C-sections.
Ensuring that primary health care centres and hospitals are well-stocked with necessary items like sterilisation materials, anesthesia, blood supplies, and post-operative medications is crucial for reducing complications and ensuring the well-being of both mothers and newborns.
Without addressing these foundational gaps, the initiative to provide free C-sections will be severely hampered, leaving vulnerable women at risk despite the promise of free surgeries.
Development Diaries calls on the minister to ensure his commitment to maternal health goes beyond his declaration of free procedures to encompass a holistic approach that strengthens the entire health care delivery system.
Photo source: Own work
