By Ojoma Akor
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has commissioned the neonatal component of its Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) Programme in Kano State, Nigeria.
A statement from the NHIA, Monday, said the programme was formally kicked off with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NHIA and the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Kano, with the aim of expanding health services for vulnerable people.
The Director General of NHIA, Dr Kelechi Ohiri said that the pilot phase of the neonatal component was already up and running in four selected facilities in Lagos representing the South West, adding that four hospitals have been identified to administer the pilot scheme in Kano including AKTH.
The Director General who was represented by the director of informal sector department of NHIA, Dr Sikiru Salaudeen said that over 200 facilities nationwide were implementing the maternal component of the CEmONC Programme while over 14, 000 women have been treated, with about 40% of beneficiaries from Kano.
Dr Salaudeen stated that the neonatal component builds on the lessons learnt and successes of the maternal component of the programme. The scope of coverage includes but is not limited to birth asphyxia, neonatal sepsis, neonatal jaundice, and acute surgical emergencies.
He said that independent external verifiers have been engaged to provide oversight of the initiative for the purpose of accountability.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Prof Abdurahman Suwaid who represented the chief medical director while commending the initiative noted that 972 women have so far been treated in the facility under the programme.
He added that the facility is the largest holder of NHIA beneficiaries in the country.
Under the watch of the Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, NHIA, signed the MOU with three other Kano State-owned facilities, namely, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, Mohammed Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital Kano, and Khalifah Shiek Isiyaka Rabiu Paediatric Hospital Kano.
