Records from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare indicated that N513, 624, 745.00 was spent on treatment of 1,629 women with fistula emergencies in the last six months of 2024.
The fund which was sourced from the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was used to pay for the obstetric fistula services being championed by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, since last year.
The Ministry said it’s expecting more fistula cases in the coming days/months considering the fact that there are backlogs of unattended cases, and also the fact that the services are free and more health care facilities across the country are being onboarded into the programme.
Director General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, told journalists at a meeting of the Steering Committee of NHIA Free Fistula Programme, in Abuja, on Thursday, that in the cause of the treatment, some women were provided with family panning services, while some were enrolled into the health insurance services.
He further stated that the treatment package also included foods, care, and some other follow-up services to ensure holistic recovery, adding that plans are underway for development partners to take up the responsibility of social and economic empowerment for the treated women.
He disclosed that the programme commenced in four health care facilities when it was launched last year, and currently, about 18 health care facilities have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and are currently implementing the services,
He said: “We have three treatment centres in northcentral, four in northeast, seven in northwest, one in southeast, and three in the south south. Our target is to expand the services to all the facilities that have the capacity to attend to the needs of the affected women.”
Dr. Ohiri thus highlighted some of the gains of the intervention which include the restoration of woman dignity, self-esteem and confidence, and return to normal social life; adding that the organisation is working on fixing the challenges being faced in the cause of the programme which include insecurity, identity management, and several other issues
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the services as a life-saving intervention for women with obstetric fistula challenges most of whom have been thrown into obscurity because of the challenge.
He commended the NHIA and developing partners for the intervention that had brought smiles and hopes on the women with obstetric fistula challenge.
The Minister was, however, optimistic that with the ongoing collaboration with other tertiary health care facilities, more women would be reached with the services, giving them hope, smiles and reason to freely associate with the society.
He further solicited the support of the state governments and other stakeholders to the cause of seamless fistula services to deserving women in their states.
