One year after the Federal Government announced free caesarean sections for indigent pregnant women to reduce Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, PUNCH Healthwise’s investigation reveals widespread implementation gaps across federal teaching hospitals. While many institutions have commenced the service, major tertiary hospitals in the South-West, including the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba; the University College Hospital, Ibadan; and the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, are yet to implement the policy, leaving vulnerable expectant mothers who need the service to continue struggling to pay out-of-pocket for the emergency procedures. JANET OGUNDEPO reports
