The Gombe state government has said it will operationalise the Federal Government’s free caesarean section surgery through implementation of an Emergency Ambulance Response system.
The Commissioner for Health, Habu Dahiru who described the gesture as “commendable,” said the ministry would operationalise the scheme to enhance access to emergency care for pregnant women in the state.
“The emergency ambulance scheme is a major component, designed to reduce delays in reaching healthcare facilities.
“There is an emergency code 912, which enables patients to connect with the Emergency Coordination Centre (EEC). It will dispatch an ambulance to transport patients from their homes or local facility to a hospital within the critical 48-hour window.
“Any woman in labour who requires a caesarean section, once referred and arrives at a facility within the first 48 hours, will receive the procedure free of charge,” he said.
According to Mr Dahiru, rapid access to caesarean sections can make the difference in saving the lives of mothers and babies, adding that they would receive prompt care at no cost.
He, however, said that cost would apply if additional treatment was required after the initial 48 hours.
To offset the cost, he said, the federal government would also enrol Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF) patients into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
“However, coverage from NHIS or Gombe State Contributory Health Services may offset these costs”.
Mr Dahiru advised those in the informal sector to enrol into the health insurance scheme, to enable them to benefit from the free services.
“With maternal mortality in Gombe and the North East sub-region remaining high at 900 deaths per 100,000 births, state officials are hopeful that the federal initiative and Gombe’s emergency response will significantly reduce these figures, paving the way for safer childbirth experiences across the region,” he said.
Also, Mu’azu Shuaibu, the Medical Director, Gombe Specialist Hospital, said the facility was providing free CS services to women in the state.
He said the patients were expected to cover about N35,000, cost of consumables such as cotton wool, bleach, gloves, and other items.
“With the FG’s announcement of free caesarean section, the consumables may now also be free, as the aim is to reduce mortality and morbidity,” he said.
