Federal Government Grants Free C-Sections to 4,000 Pregnant Women Nationwide

The Federal Government has disclosed that about 4,000 expectant mothers across Nigeria have benefitted from free caesarean section deliveries under its ongoing efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality. The initiative forms part of the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), designed to improve access to life-saving obstetric care, particularly in high-risk communities.

Health authorities said the surgeries were conducted at designated public health facilities and fully covered under government-supported maternal health programmes, ensuring that financial barriers did not prevent access to emergency childbirth services. The intervention targets pregnant women experiencing complications that require surgical delivery to ensure safer birth outcomes for both mothers and babies.

Launched in November 2024, the MAMII project focuses on 172 local government areas identified as having the highest burden of maternal and neonatal deaths. Beyond emergency procedures, the programme also includes expanded antenatal care, referral support, medical supplies distribution, and improved accountability measures within the health system.

Officials revealed that more than 400,000 pregnant women have so far received various forms of support through the initiative, including access to essential medicines and improved health facility services. While progress has been recorded, authorities acknowledged the need for further investment in community health workers, emergency response systems, and referral infrastructure to sustain long-term improvements in maternal healthcare delivery.