Governor Soludo’s Free Antenatal Programme Expands Access to Safe Maternal Healthcare in Anambra

By Stanley Nwako

The Anambra State Government, under the leadership of , is strengthening maternal and child healthcare through its free antenatal and delivery programme, a landmark initiative designed to ensure that every expectant mother has access to quality healthcare regardless of her financial status.

Introduced in September 2023, the programme offers free antenatal care, essential medications, laboratory investigations, normal deliveries and Caesarean sections in government owned hospitals across the state. The initiative was established to reduce maternal and infant mortality, eliminate financial barriers to safe childbirth and encourage more women to deliver in health facilities under the care of skilled medical professionals.

Since its launch, the programme has recorded remarkable success, with thousands of pregnant women benefiting from the intervention. The initiative has also led to a significant increase in the number of women accessing antenatal services and delivering their babies in public health facilities, reflecting growing public confidence in the state’s healthcare system.

Governor Soludo has consistently maintained that no woman should lose her life or that of her baby because she cannot afford quality medical care. He described the free antenatal initiative as a key component of his administration’s vision of building a healthy, resilient and livable Anambra where quality healthcare is accessible to every resident.

The programme continues to receive widespread commendation from beneficiaries and healthcare stakeholders, who regard it as one of the most impactful health interventions of the Soludo administration. It also reinforces the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and safeguarding the wellbeing of mothers and newborns across Anambra State.