NHIA Expands Maternal Health Programme To Neonatal Care In Kano State

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has expanded its flagship maternal wellness programme to see neonatal care, launching the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) aviator signifier successful Kano State.

Building connected the occurrence of its maternal wellness interventions, NHIA inaugurated the neonatal constituent during a high-level delegation sojourn to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and the Kano State Ministry of Health (KSMOH).

The maternal component, introduced successful July 2024 nether the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), has already provided life-saving exigency obstetric services to thousands of women nationwide. In Kano alone, implicit 2,000 women person benefited from the scheme.

Welcoming the development, Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusif, praised NHIA for choosing the authorities for the aviator phase. He pledged afloat authorities support, disclosing that much facilities had been identified for inclusion.

He besides tasked participating hospitals to execute a 95 per cent endurance complaint for admitted newborns.
At AKTH, infirmary absorption expressed appreciation for the CEmONC programme, describing it arsenic transformative for maternal wellness outcomes successful the state.

NHIA confirmed the hospital’s information successful the neonatal aviator and emphasised the urgency of the expansion.

A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed betwixt NHIA, AKTH, and Reliance HMO, the designated third-party administrator, to formalise the collaboration. The delegation besides commissioned the hospital’s Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), dedicated to critically sick newborns.

NHIA’s Director General, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, was commended for his evidence-driven enactment and committedness to reform. Stakeholders noted that the CEmONC programme focuses connected partnerships, innovative financing, and data-driven governance.

Similarly, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, lauded NHIA’s efforts, reaffirming the Federal Government’s committedness nether President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to trim maternal and babe mortality portion ensuring equitable entree to healthcare. With this expansion, NHIA has reinforced its pledge to support mothers and newborns, bringing Nigeria person to achieving Universal Health Coverage.