No fewer than 198,810 residents of the Federal Capital Territory have been enrolled in the Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Scheme over the past year, including 10,065 pregnant women who registered free of charge.

This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

According to the statement, the administration led by Wike has recorded a significant boost in enrolment figures, surpassing the scheme’s annual target of 25,000 lives by 117 per cent and 144 per cent in different phases. “In its commitment to ending maternal and infant mortality due to avoidable and preventable causes, the FCTA enrolled 10,065 vulnerable persons, including pregnant women, who now have free access to all services covered under the Basic Minimum Package of Health Services through Primary Healthcare Centres,” Olayinka said.

He explained that the BMPHS includes a wide range of essential services such as primary preventive care, screening, emergency services, as well as secondary-level care including dental, mental health, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), eye care, physiotherapy, surgical procedures, laboratory tests, and radiological investigations like ultrasound scans and X-rays.

Olayinka encouraged FCT residents to take advantage of the FHIS by registering, noting that free enrolment for vulnerable groups, especially pregnant women, which began in February, is still ongoing.

He added that all pregnant women who register at Primary Health Centres across the six area councils through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund are entitled to free medical consultation, routine antenatal care, medications, diagnostic services, and safe delivery, including cesarean sections and treatment of complications such as eclampsia.“Referral for advanced care—such as cesarean sections, blood transfusions, and management of obstetric emergencies—is provided at no cost at the 14 General Hospitals in the FCT through the BHCPF,” he said.

Also speaking during an event held at the Gwarinpa District Hospital to mark the 2025 World Health Day, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, highlighted the FCTA’s ongoing efforts to reduce maternal and infant deaths.She stated, “A major intervention is the approval of free health insurance coverage for all pregnant women residing in the FCT, ensuring that all childbirth-related expenses—including both vaginal and cesarean deliveries—are fully covered at no cost to the beneficiaries.”

The initiative, she noted, is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards maternal and infant mortality.

“In alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, several hospitals in the FCT—including Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Abaji, and Kuje General Hospitals—have been designated as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Centres. These centres will provide free cesarean sections and other critical services,” she added.