Juliet Jacob 
ABUJA, Nigeria- The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has unveiled a new neonatal initiative in Kano under its Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care Programme, marking a decisive step to improve maternal and child health nationwide.
The scheme follows a successful pilot in Lagos and is now extending to more states, with a focus on underserved populations. NHIA Director General Dr Kelechi Ohiri stressed its impact: “Our goal is to ensure mothers and newborns, especially in rural areas, get timely, quality healthcare. This initiative is vital to reducing maternal and neonatal deaths.”
NHIA figures show more than 14,000 women have already benefited across Nigeria, with 40% from Kano alone. To guarantee accountability, the authority confirmed that independent external verifiers will oversee the rollout.
“This is about building trust and delivering results for Nigerian families,” Dr Ohiri added.
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Mirian Gom 
Otamere Gladness 
Hussaini Ibrahim 