…Health insurance coverage to be expanded through federal-state collaboration to save mothers and babies
…Commissioner Abayomi: “Every pregnant woman is a potential emergency – We must act accordingly”
…Special Adviser Kemi Ogunyemi: “Don’t ask how much – Just save her life!”
LAGOS, Nigeria – In a determined push to reduce maternal mortality and fast-track access to emergency obstetric services, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, on Monday convened a high-level stakeholder sensitization meeting on the NHIA Maternal Initiative for Financing Access to Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC). The meeting, held at Protea Hotel, Alausa-Ikeja, brought together top health officials, hospital medical directors, and implementing partners to drive a unified response to maternal health emergencies in Lagos.
Addressing participants at the sensitization meeting, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, stressed the urgency of curbing maternal mortality in Lagos, noting that the current statistic of 400 deaths per 100,000 live births remains unacceptable for a megacity. He described every pregnancy as a “potential emergency” and emphasized the need for seamless referral linkages across the state’s healthcare system.
Prof. Abayomi disclosed that the Lagos State Government has already embarked on structural upgrades by building and renovating Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), adding 10 Mother and Child Centres (MCCs), and constructing a state-of-the-art Massey Children’s Hospital. “But 10 MCCs are not enough,” he said. “Our target is to have at least one in each local government. We are redesigning our strategy to meet this goal.”
He explained that Lagos has identified five layers of maternal healthcare providers, including traditional birth attendants (TBAs), stating that regulating and integrating TBAs into the healthcare system is essential. “We are not trying to eliminate them; we want to equip and regulate them to ensure they know their limits and make timely referrals,” he said.
While noting the danger of unregistered pregnancies and lack of antenatal care, the Commissioner emphasized the importance of early identification of high-risk pregnancies. “Every pregnant woman must be registered and tracked. We must ensure antenatal care is complete so we can plan appropriate interventions,” he stressed.
Speaking on the newly domesticated health insurance law in Lagos, Prof. Abayomi said the State has issued an Executive Order to implement the NHIA Act locally. He added that a combination of public health campaigns and enforcement would ensure broader health insurance coverage for vulnerable women and families.
“The essence of this program is clear: if a pregnant woman in Lagos presents with an emergency, whether she’s registered or not, she will be treated. We’ll save her life first and figure out the payment later. That’s the true role of government,” he concluded, pledging Lagos’ full commitment to the CEmOC program.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi, lauded the initiative as a timely life-saving intervention and called for zero tolerance for delays in emergency obstetric care. “We must stop asking women in distress how much they have. Just save the life!” she said passionately.
Dr. Ogunyemi shared personal insights, reflecting on her own delivery experience in the UK and emphasizing the stark contrast in maternal care systems. “It’s not about whether we are God or not; it’s about doing everything humanly possible to ensure both mother and baby survive,” she stated.
She urged health workers to take ownership of the initiative and ensure its smooth implementation at the facility level. “Every secondary hospital must rise to the occasion. This is not just NHIA’s job. It’s all of ours,” she said.
Dr. Ogunyemi further expressed confidence that with the combined efforts of the Ministry, stakeholders, and NHIA, Lagos would set the standard for maternal care delivery across Nigeria. “This collaboration is a strong signal that we are ready to change the story for women in Lagos,” she added.
In his remarks, Director General of the NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, explained that the CEmOC initiative, launched in April 2024, is a strategic pillar under President Bola Tinubu’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) mandate and the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Dr. Ohiri noted that the program focuses on ensuring rapid access to lifesaving care for women suffering from obstetric emergencies such as eclampsia, hemorrhage, sepsis, and obstructed labour. “This initiative is about removing financial and systemic bottlenecks so care can happen without delay,” he said.
He revealed that the program has already benefitted over 2,000 women nationwide and emphasized that Lagos was critical to the next phase of scale-up. “With its massive population and urban complexities, Lagos will be the benchmark for the success of this intervention,” Dr. Ohiri remarked.
Dr. Ohiri called for coordinated data tracking, efficient referral systems, and swift disbursement protocols across participating facilities. “Maternal death is a solvable crisis. With Lagos’ commitment, we are confident of saving thousands of lives in the coming months,” he concluded.
