The federal government’s free caesarean section (CS) initiative seems to be stuck in the labour ward of bureaucracy, while Nigeria’s maternal mortality rates continue to climb.
Development Diaries reports that the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, in November 2024 announced that cesarean sections will now be provided free of charge to women in need, as part of the government’s efforts to reduce the country’s maternal mortality rate.
Announced three months ago under the ‘Supporting Financial Access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC)’ programme, the initiative was welcomed as a beacon of hope for low-income families unable to afford life-saving delivery procedures.
However, the continued inaction risks turning a laudable promise into yet another unfulfilled government pledge.
Nigeria faces a significant maternal health crisis, with maternal mortality rates among the highest globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Nigeria was estimated at 814 deaths per 100,000 live births.
A 2023 report by Journal of Global Health Reports indicated that Nigeria’s MMR had risen to 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, reflecting a concerning increase in maternal deaths over recent years.
For many poor and vulnerable women, timely access to safe delivery options, including CS procedures, is not just a matter of convenience but a fight for survival.
With CS costs ranging from N250,000 to over N500,000 depending on the hospital, many families are left with few options but to endure dangerous home births or go into crippling debt.
The government’s failure to operationalise this initiative undermines its supposed commitment to safeguarding maternal health and combating preventable deaths.
The persistent silence and lack of clear communication on the cause of the delay further fuels public skepticism.
Bureaucratic red tape, lack of proper data management, and inadequate planning cannot excuse inaction when lives are at stake.
The health sector cannot stay slow and unresponsive while healthcare costs keep rising and rural areas continue to face serious problems with maternal health.
The government needs to understand that healthcare is not just about making promises. People’s lives are at risk, and every delay could lead to more preventable deaths.
Development Diaries calls on the health minister to urgently get this free CS initiative running or risk turning hope into heartbreak. The failure to act swiftly signals either a lack of priority or gross inefficiency, both of which are unacceptable.
Photo source: Own work
