The Ogun government has said it targets at least 15,000 expectant mothers to benefit from its free delivery programme, tagged “Ibidero” (safe delivery).

The Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, disclosed this while briefing journalists on Friday on the new scheme in Abeokuta.

Ms Coker said the programme was initiated “to improve the state’s maternal mortality index”.

She said the initiative was the state’s health insurance scheme targeted at vulnerable and indigent pregnant women in the 20 local government areas.

She said that through the programme, the enrollees would have access to free maternal health services at their assigned health centres, reducing the risk of complications during or after pregnancy.

The commissioner revealed that “Ibidero” was designed to include a conditional cash transfer, where the pregnant women captured in the programme would get a stipend after delivery at their assigned health facilities.

According to her, each beneficiary would be registered in hospitals within walking distance to their homes.

“Last year, 3,000 pregnant women benefitted from the pilot phase of the programme.

“As a consequence, Governor Dapo Abiodun has graciously approved scaling up the programme to 15,000 beneficiaries,” she said.

Ms Coker further said that about 300 public and private health facilities at the primary and secondary levels had been registered for the programme.

She also said the gesture by the government would contribute to a significant reduction in cases of maternal mortality occasioned by “extreme economic vulnerability” in the state.

(NAN)