NHIA finances emergency maternity care for 90,000 women

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has financed emergency obstetric care for 90,000 women over an 18-month period. The initiative aims to prevent maternal mortality by ensuring that women facing life-threatening complications during childbirth receive immediate medical attention without delays caused by hospital bill disputes or the requirement for upfront payments.

NHIA Director-General Kelechi Ohiri announced the figures at the 2026 Future of Health Conference in Abuja. He stated that the programme covers approximately 300 accredited hospitals across all states in Nigeria, with more facilities being added daily. The intervention is designed to remove financial barriers such as requests for deposits, which have historically led to avoidable deaths from conditions like haemorrhage, sepsis, or pre-eclampsia.

This programme serves as a practical application of the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, which seeks to achieve universal health coverage. By absorbing these emergency costs, the NHIA also aims to prevent catastrophic health expenditures that can plunge families into extreme poverty.