* To reduce maternal mortality rate
The Federal government, on Thursday, announced that cesarean sections will now be provided free of charge to pregnant women in need.
The decision was taken as part of the government’s efforts to reduce the country’s maternal mortality rate.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, confirmed the initiative at an ongoing three-day Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in Abuja.
According to Pate, the initiative is an ambitious commitment to reducing maternal and newborn mortality across Nigeria.
Confirming the announcement, a tweet from the official X handle of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare read: “In a powerful move, Coordinating Minister @muhammadpate just announced that Cesarean Sections for all Nigerian women who need them will now be FREE!”
According to the post, Pate noted that no woman should lose her life simply because she cannot afford a C-section.