FG’s free fistula surgery benefits 1,629 women – NHIA

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disclosed that no fewer than 1,629 have so far benefited and undergone free fistula surgery treatment across Nigeria.

The Director General of NHIA, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, while disclosing this at the second steering committee meeting of National Health Insurance Authority, fistula free programme held in Abuja, said the programme which is its six months has already recorded impactful milestones and touched lives of poor women.

“Right now, about 1629 beneficiaries have been verified paid for between the last six months of the launch to date, but that’s just a number that we have verified and paid for.”

“The number of claims submitted is over almost 2000 and as more awareness you know about the program gets out there, we hope that there will be no woman with fistula program that with fistula who will miss out on and so we’re working with facilities, and one of the next steps will be how we engage civil society to make sure that the word is out there for more and more people to come in.”

While speaking further, the DG explained that it is aimed at supporting all women in Nigeria who are living with obstetric fistula, irrespective of the geopolitical and where they are.

ALSO READ: FG is committed to prosperous Nigeria — Tinubu

He added that the programme is a three-step process which is essentially one, identify and resolve whatever morbidities, which is a fistula, in this case, that the woman presents with.

Ohiri said that NHIA is working with the State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure that beneficiaries are enrolled into health insurance after the surgery.

He also said that NHIA intends to expand its engagement with civil society, who are best positioned to work with the communities to ensure that their livelihoods are fully restored.

“It means that we have to leverage existing infrastructure work with stakeholders to make sure that they are included, and then, thirdly, make sure that inclusion mechanisms some of these people, it’s not just a medical issue they face,” he said.

Earlier, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate who chaired the meeting said the programme has seen significant change in terms of the care, and the remediation the women who have obstetric fistula have received.

He also said that the initiative is working and reaching the vulnerable women as envisioned by the present administration.

READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE