MAMII: Over 4,000 Women Benefit From FG’s Free C-Section As Arodiogbu Hails Tinubu
By Felix Oti, Awka
The National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, MBBS, PhD, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) and the Federal Government’s Free Caesarean Section Programme* as one of the most transformative healthcare interventions in Nigeria’s recent history.
Dr. Arodiogbu said the initiative demonstrates President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives of Nigerian women and newborns under the Renewed Hope Agenda by removing financial barriers that have prevented thousands of expectant mothers from accessing life-saving emergency obstetric care.
According to him, maternal mortality remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges, making the Federal Government’s intervention both timely and strategic.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again demonstrated that good governance is measured by policies that directly save lives. The Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) and the Free Caesarean Section Programme will significantly reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths while restoring hope to millions of Nigerian families,” Dr. Arodiogbu stated.
He noted that under MAMII, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), is providing free caesarean sections and emergency obstetric care for eligible pregnant women in designated public and accredited private hospitals nationwide.
The initiative also targets Nigeria’s highest-burden Local Government Areas with comprehensive maternal and newborn healthcare interventions.
Dr. Arodiogbu highlighted the remarkable progress already recorded under the programme:
-More than 4,000 pregnant women have benefited from free caesarean section surgeries under the National Health Insurance programme.
The initiative focuses on 172 high-burden LGAs* responsible for more than half of Nigeria’s maternal deaths.
Over 400,000* pregnant women have been identified and enrolled for closer antenatal monitoring.
More than 500 health facilities have received life-saving maternal and newborn commodities.
435 health facilities have been revitalised to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare delivery.
Emergency transport and ambulance services have been activated across 12 states significantly improving referrals for obstetric emergencies.
Referrals through the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) increased from 86 to over 32,700, ensuring quicker access to life-saving care.
He further observed that the programme goes beyond free surgeries by strengthening primary healthcare services, improving antenatal care attendance, expanding emergency response systems, upgrading health facilities, ensuring the availability of skilled birth attendants, and increasing access to essential maternal medicines and equipment.
According to Dr. Arodiogbu, these interventions will substantially reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for vulnerable families while improving maternal and child survival rates across the country.
He commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), healthcare workers, development partners, and state governments for supporting the successful implementation of the initiative.
Dr. Arodiogbu urged pregnant women, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women groups and community stakeholders to embrace the programme by encouraging early antenatal registration and delivery in approved healthcare facilities.
“This initiative is not merely a healthcare programme; it is a national investment in the future of Nigeria. Every mother saved means a stronger family, healthier children and a more productive nation. President Tinubu has once again demonstrated visionary leadership by prioritising the health and wellbeing of Nigerian women,” he added.
The APC National Vice Chairman reaffirmed that the Tinubu administration’s reforms in the health sector continue to reflect the President’s determination to build a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, inclusive and capable of delivering quality care to every Nigerian, regardless of economic status.
