The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has reaffirmed its dedication to delivering quality healthcare, transparency, and accountability in its service delivery.
This commitment is exemplified through its support for the Fistula-Free Programme (FFP), an initiative that provides free, comprehensive care for women affected by obstetric fistula.
Speaking on the programme, the NHIA’s Director-General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, emphasized the importance of credibility, accurate data entry, and rigorous validation of claims as crucial elements for the programme’s success.
The NHIA highlighted this during a recent update shared on its official LinkedIn page.
“The FFP is an innovative financing mechanism designed to support poor and vulnerable women suffering from obstetric fistula,” said Dr. Ohiri.
“The use of third-party administrators for claims verification has significantly improved accountability and ensured more efficient use of resources.”
Dr. Ohiri noted that a recent NHIA visit to Gwarinpa General Hospital underscored the Authority’s strategic role in expanding access to quality fistula care through sustainable financing and partnerships with accredited healthcare centres.
He further stated that by strengthening data systems and adopting community-based approaches, the NHIA is not only improving healthcare access but also restoring dignity, hope, and a future to thousands of Nigerian women.
Dr. Moriamo Shaibu, Medical Director of Gwarinpa General Hospital, shared that the centre has achieved a success rate of over 90% in fistula repairs, treating women from states as far as Zamfara and Cross River.
Adding to this, Dr. Halima Bello, Head of the Fistula Centre at the hospital, explained that the facility offers more than just free surgeries.
“We provide holistic care that includes post-operative rehabilitation, counselling, and long-term follow-up to ensure complete recovery and reintegration into society,” Dr. Bello said.
Obstetric fistula is a childbirth injury resulting from prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention. It creates a hole between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum, causing chronic incontinence and often leading to severe social stigma.
Despite its devastating impact, the condition is both preventable and treatable with timely access to proper maternal healthcare.
