The Ogun State Government announced on Friday its commitment to support over 15,000 pregnant women through the “Ibidero” program, offering free delivery and maternal healthcare services. This initiative aims to significantly improve the state’s maternal mortality rate.
Dr. Tomi Coker, the Commissioner for Health, revealed in Abeokuta that “Ibidero” constitutes a health insurance scheme targeting economically disadvantaged pregnant women across the state’s 20 local government areas.
Under this program, enrolled pregnant women will receive comprehensive maternal health services at designated health centers, significantly reducing the likelihood of complications during and after childbirth.
Coker emphasized that “Ibidero” includes a conditional cash transfer element, ensuring that women registered in the program receive financial support after delivering their babies at the assigned healthcare facility. Each beneficiary will be registered at hospitals conveniently located near their residences.
“Last year, 3,000 pregnant women benefited from the pilot phase of the programme. As a consequence, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has graciously approved the scaling up of the programme to 15,000 beneficiaries,” she said.
Coker further disclosed that about 300 public and private health facilities at the primary and secondary levels have been enlisted for the programme.
She said the gesture by the government would contribute to a significant reduction in maternal mortality cases, occasioned by extreme economic vulnerability, in the state.
“One of the indices by which the overall status of the healthcare system of a country or state is assessed is its maternal mortality rate. According to the WHO, the maternal rate in Nigeria stands at 917 deaths per 100,000 live births, making us the fourth highest globally.
“It is worth noting that most of these deaths are preventable, but according to reports, only 40% of all births in the country take place in a health facility. The implication of this is that most of our pregnant women are at the mercy of traditional birth attendants (TPAs), faith homes, etc. during their pregnancy and delivery period. That’s why, I believe, this initiative is quite timely,” she said.
The commissioner added that the cash transfer innovation of the programme was conceived as an additional incentive to ensure that the women attend antenatal care regularly and deliver at the assigned hospital, adding that this would aid the government in reducing morbidity and mortality that might arise as a result of complications.
She assured that the present administration is committed to providing affordable, qualitative, and accessible healthcare for all.