The Edo State Coordinator of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Ehannire Theodore, led his team on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Edo State, as part of the Authority’s ongoing stakeholder engagement efforts.
During the visit, Dr. Ehannire outlined the Authority’s recent initiatives, including the Edo–Ovia Constituency Project, the Free Fistula Programme (FFP), and the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC) programme, all aimed at improving access to affordable and quality healthcare services for residents of Edo State.
He noted that the Edo–Ovia Constituency Project is being executed in partnership with Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, who has generously financed the initiative to enhance healthcare delivery within his constituency and beyond.
Highlighting the achievements of the Authority, Dr. Ehannire disclosed that 225 women have benefitted from the CEmOC initiative, while 37 women have been treated and insured under the Free Fistula Programme (FFP). These successes, he said, demonstrate NHIA’s practical commitment to reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in the state.
He further explained that the CEmOC programme provides coverage for women at risk of maternal mortality arising from conditions such as pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, haemorrhage, prolonged obstructed labour, sepsis, and post-abortion complications. Similarly, the FFP supports women diagnosed with obstetric fistula by covering conservative treatment, surgical intervention, transportation to the National Obstetric Fistula Centre (NOFIC), as well as education, counseling, and family planning services.
Dr. Ehannire reaffirmed NHIA’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through stronger collaboration with the Edo State Government, particularly in deepening health insurance penetration at the grassroots level.
In his remarks, the Deputy Chief of Staff commended NHIA for its impactful programmes and assured the team of the government’s continuous support to improve healthcare access and outcomes across Edo State.
