The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says that a total of 1,629 women across the country have benefitted from its free fistula programme.
The Director General of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja during the second steering committee meeting of the programme.
He said N513 million have been spent on the program since it’s commencement on June 2024. The program is geared towards addressing both the clinical and non-clinical needs of women suffering from obstetric fistula .
He said the agency received a total of 1,898 applications and enrolled 922 beneficiaries into health insurance during the period.
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He said: “About 1, 629 beneficiaries have been verified and paid for, between the last six months of the launch to date, but that’s just a number that we have verified and paid for.
“The number of claims submitted is almost 2, 000 and as more awareness about the programme gets out there, we hope that there will be no woman with fistula. “
The NHIA DG, said that programme does not not only resolve fistula-related morbidities but also covers associated costs like feeding, transportation, post-care follow-ups, and insurance enrollment to meet other medical needs.
He said it involves a three-step process treatment, insurance enrollment, and sustained access to healthcare.
He further said that the initiative, currently active in 18 accredited facilities nationwide, is being expanded to include additional tertiary and secondary healthcare providers.
The Coordinating Minister of health and social welfare Prof Muhammad Ali Pate said the program is active across 42 facilities nationwide, including conflict-affected regions like the Northeast, adding that it also demonstrates how health equity can reach even the most marginalized.
He said, “ I visited one of the fistula centers, in the north east. I saw women who came from Lagos. I saw a woman who came from Niger. I saw a woman from Anambra. Some women came from North West, and had all been repaired without cost to them. So this showed me that this initiative is working. It is reaching the women, the vulnerable women who require the repairs of obstetric fistula.”
The minister added that the program was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s direction for the health sector to ensure access to quality care, especially for the poor and vulnerable, and make it affordable for all Nigerians.