Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
A total of 198,810 residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were enrolled in the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS) in the last year, including 10,065 pregnant women who were registered free.
This was disclosed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, in a statement yesterday.
It noted that since the inception of the Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), significant increase had been witnessed in the FHIS enrolment, with over 100 percent of annual enrolment target of 25,000 lives per annum surpassed by 17 per cent and 44 per cent.
In the FCTA’s resolve to end maternal and infant mortality resulting from avoidable and preventable causes, Olayinka said; “of the 198,810 residents enrolled, 10,065 vulnerable persons, including pregnant women enjoyed free enrollment, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS).
“The services include primary preventive care, screening, primary emergency services, and secondary level care such as dental, mental, eye, ear, nose and throat care, physiotherapy, surgeries, laboratory investigations, radiological investigations such as ultrasound scan, x-rays.”
The FCT Minister’s Spokesperson, who urged residents to key into the FHIS by registering for the scheme, said free registration for vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, which commenced in February, this year was still on.
He said all pregnant women who enrolled through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres across the six Area Councils in the FCT will continue to enjoy free health education, medical consultation and treatment, routine antenatal drugs, laboratory investigations and delivery.
It adds: “Referral for secondary care including caesarean section, blood transfusion, and treatment of other obstetric complications such as eclampsia, at all the 14 General Hospitals in the FCT is also provided at no cost to the patient through the BHCPF.”
Quoting the Mandate Secretary of the FCT on Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, who was speaking at an event in Gwarinpa District Hospital, commemorating the 2025 World Health Day, “the FCTA under the leadership of Barrister Nyesom Wike has intensified efforts to combat maternal and infant deaths.
“A key intervention is the approval of free health insurance coverage for all pregnant women residing in the FCT, ensuring that all childbirth-related expenses, including vaginal and cesarean deliveries, are fully covered at no cost.
“The initiative formed part of activities marking this year’s event under the Renewed Hope Initiative, which maintains a zero-tolerance stance on maternal and infant mortality.
“In alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, several hospitals in the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEONC) centers.
“These facilities will also offer cesarean sections free of charge”, the statement added.
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