The federal capital territory administration (FCTA) says 198,810 residents of the nation’s capital have enrolled in its health insurance scheme over the past year.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Lere Olayinka, senior special assistant on public communications and social media to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), said the figure includes 10,065 pregnant women who were registered for free.
Olayinka said there has been a significant increase in the health insurance scheme enrollment, with over 100 percent of the annual enrollment target of 25,000 lives per annum surpassed by 17 percent and 44 percent since Wike became the FCT minister.
“In the FCTA’s resolve to end maternal and infant mortality resulting from avoidable and preventable causes, of the 198,810 residents enrolled, 10,065 vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, enjoyed free enrollment, which allows them free access, through the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres, to all services covered in the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMPHS),” the statement reads.
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“The services include primary preventive care, screening, primary emergency services, and secondary-level care such as dental, mental, eye, ear, nose, and throat care; physiotherapy; surgeries; laboratory investigations; and radiological investigations such as ultrasound scans and x-rays.”
The minister’s spokesperson urged residents to key into the scheme, adding that free registration for vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, which commenced in February this year, is still on.
He said all pregnant women who enrolled through the basic health care provision fund (BHCPF) at primary health care (PHC) centres across the six area councils in the FCT would continue to enjoy free health education, medical consultation and treatment, routine antenatal drugs, laboratory investigations, and delivery.
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“Referral for secondary care, including cesarean section, blood transfusion, and treatment of other obstetric complications such as eclampsia, at all 14 general hospitals in the FCT is also provided at no cost to the patient through the BHCPF,” Olayinka added.
He quoted Adedolapo Fasawe, mandate secretary of the FCT on health services and environment secretariat, who was speaking at an event in Gwarinpa District Hospital commemorating the 2025 World Health Day, that “the FCTA, under the leadership of Barrister Nyesom Wike, intensified efforts to combat maternal and infant deaths”.
“A key intervention is the approval of free health insurance coverage for all pregnant women residing in the FCT, ensuring that all childbirth-related expenses, including vaginal and cesarean deliveries, are fully covered at no cost,” Olayinka further quoted Fasawe as saying.
“The initiative formed part of activities marking this year’s event under the Renewed Hope Initiative, which maintains a zero-tolerance stance on maternal and infant mortality.
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“In alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, several hospitals in the FCT, including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals, have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEONC) centres. These facilities will also offer caesarean sections free of charge.”
