BENIN CITY – The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has strengthened its partnership with Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH) to expand access to life-saving emergency obstetric and newborn care, as part of efforts to reduce preventable maternal and neonatal deaths and accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The renewed collaboration, a major boost to maternal and newborn healthcare in Edo State, was formalised with the handover of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) Programme by the NHIA Edo State Coordinator, Dr. Theodore Osas Ehannire (MSGI), to the Chief Medical Director of Edo Specialist Hospital, Dr. (Mrs.) Anthonia Inibokun Njoku, at the hospital in Benin City.
The CEmONC initiative, championed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, is aimed at expanding access to quality emergency maternal and newborn healthcare while providing financial protection for vulnerable Nigerians. The programme is expected to significantly reduce avoidable deaths arising from pregnancy, childbirth and newborn complications.
Edo Specialist Hospital secured accreditation for the programme after successfully meeting stringent requirements on infrastructure, medical equipment and specialist manpower, reinforcing its status as a centre of excellence for comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care in Edo State.
Presenting the MoU, Dr. Ehannire congratulated the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, for his unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery and commended Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo for prioritising quality healthcare through his administration’s people-centred initiatives.
He also praised Dr. Njoku and the hospital’s management team for attaining the accreditation and urged them to ensure the effective implementation of the programme to maximise its impact on maternal and child health.
“No woman should lose her life because of emergency obstetric complications in this day and age,” Dr. Ehannire said, stressing the importance of prompt access to quality emergency maternal healthcare.
Responding, Dr. Njoku expressed gratitude to NHIA Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, for the intervention and commended Dr. Ehannire for his pivotal role in facilitating the hospital’s accreditation.
She reaffirmed the hospital’s readiness to provide high-quality Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care services, assuring that Edo Specialist Hospital would justify the confidence reposed in it by delivering efficient, timely and life-saving care to women and newborns.
The ceremony underscored the growing partnership between NHIA and Edo Specialist Hospital in advancing Universal Health Coverage and ensuring that more women have access to safe, affordable and quality maternal healthcare services.
Among those present were the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Dr. Victor Ohenhen; the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC); and the NHIA Edo State Public Relations Officer, Mr. Osula Teghese.