The Gombe State Government in North-Eastern Nigeria has announced it will roll out the federal government’s free caesarean section scheme through the launch of an Emergency Ambulance Response System designed to improve access to maternal care.
Commissioner for Health Dr Habu Dahiru praised the initiative, explaining that it aims to reduce delays in reaching healthcare facilities for pregnant women in need of emergency care.
The system includes a new emergency code, 912, which connects callers with an Emergency Coordination Centre (EEC). Dahiru said, “The emergency ambulance scheme is a major component, designed to reduce delays in reaching healthcare facilities.”
He continued, “There is an emergency code 912, which enables patients to connect with the Emergency Coordination Centre (EEC). It will dispatch an ambulance to transport patients from their homes or local facility to a hospital within the critical 48-hour window.”
“Any woman in labour who requires a caesarean section and arrives at a facility within this period will receive the surgery free of charge,” he continued.
While the free service covers initial emergency procedures, any additional treatments after 48 hours will incur costs, which may be offset by enrolment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) or Gombe State Contributory Health Services.
In a region with high maternal mortality rates—900 deaths per 100,000 births—officials hope this initiative will significantly lower risks for mothers and infants, providing safer childbirth experiences across the state.
