Some residents of Lagos have decried the non-implementation of the state government’s free antenatal and child delivery services at some General Hospitals and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the state.
The residents spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
NAN reports that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had, during a media chat on Feb. 22, announced sweeping interventions which the state would be implementing in order to reduce the effects of the current economic hardship on its citizens.
On health, Sanwo-Olu reintroduced free child delivery programme for expectant mothers in all the state-owned General Hospitals and special maternity centres.
According to the governor, the state government will take up the cost of the child delivery, including caesarean section.
It would also reduce the cost of some certain drugs, such as hypertension medication.
The residents said that the free antenatal and child delivery services was a lip-service, stressing that the hospitals charged for every service rendered.
Mrs Funmilayo Olatunji, a trader who delivered at Ikorodu Health Centre, Ita-Elewa, said that delivery wasn’t free at the centre.
“I had normal delivery at the centre in February 2024. We paid N8,000 for child delivery fees, N10,500 for vaginal tear, and a cartoon of Maltina.
This is part of relief measures to ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal.
The medical intervention will cover the cost of antenatal care, including the cost of registration and ANC clinics, as well as normal and cesarean section child delivery services.
It also seeks to increase access to quality maternal and child health services in line with the state government’s Universal Health Coverage attainment drive. (NAN)
