NHIA's Dr Kelechi Ohiri Reports 90,000 Women Helped

Dr Kelechi Ohiri, the Director-General of the NHIA, announced that approximately 90,000 women have benefited from an emergency obstetric care scheme designed to improve access to maternal healthcare in Nigeria. This intervention was introduced to tackle delays in receiving emergency treatment, particularly for women unable to afford costs associated with childbirth complications.

Ohiri explained that many women face delays due to hospitals requiring deposits before treatment, which can worsen their conditions. The scheme, which began with pilot facilities and has now expanded to cover about 300 hospitals nationwide, ensures that women experiencing complications can receive care without financial barriers.

Additionally, Ohiri mentioned that around 6,000 women benefited from another unspecified health intervention. He emphasized the need for health insurance coverage to translate into actual access to healthcare and financial protection, noting that only about 23.2 million people in Nigeria are covered by health insurance out of an estimated population of 218 million to 250 million.