Nigeria, Nov. 10 -- The Nigerian government says it has provided 80,906 free caesarean sections under its emergency obstetric care programme, alongside a 22 per cent reduction in deaths from obstetric emergencies in participating health facilities.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2026 Nigeria Health Sector Joint Annual Review (JAR) in Abuja.

Mr Pate said nearly 100,000 free emergency obstetric and newborn healthcare services had been delivered since the programme was announced two years ago.

According to him, the services included 80,906 caesarean sections, approximately 9,100 newborn services and 6,059 repairs for vesicovaginal fistula, a condition that can cause ...