The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has announced a new policy granting free health insurance and free caesarean section services to all pregnant women residing in the FCT.
The declaration was made by the FCTA’s Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Adedolapo Fasewa, on Monday during the 2025 World Health Day commemoration held at the Gwarimpa District Hospital, Abuja.
Fasewa noted that the initiative is part of efforts to curb Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, which is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
She emphasized that the present administration is committed to changing this narrative and ensuring safer deliveries for women in the region.
“To benefit from this program, all pregnant women must register with the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS),” Fasewa said. “Beyond delivery, the scheme also covers infant care after birth, ensuring that both mother and child receive adequate postnatal attention.”
READ ALSO: Africa Records 178,000 Maternal, 1 Million Newborn Deaths Yearly — WHO
She urged women across the FCT to take advantage of the initiative and register, stressing that tackling maternal mortality requires collective action beyond the efforts of the federal government.
“This is a fight we must all be part of,” she added. “We cannot afford to keep losing our mothers during childbirth.”
The move has been widely commended as a step in the right direction for improving healthcare access for vulnerable groups, especially low-income families.