…as bill scales second reading
Kogi State House of Assembly has given second reading to a bill seeking to provide free maternal and neonatal healthcare services for pregnant women and newborns in all state -owned health facilities, as part of efforts to reduce maternal and infant mortality across the state.
The bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Provide for Free Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare Services for Pregnant Women and Newborn Children in State -Owned Health Facilities in Kogi State and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2025,” scaled second reading during plenary on Tuesday in Lokoja.
Umar Yahaya, member representing Omala State Constituency, who led the debate, said the bill seeks to remove financial barriers that prevent women and newborns from accessing life -saving healthcare services.
He pointed out that it provides a comprehensive framework for free maternal and neonatal healthcare, including the establishment of an implementation committee, funding mechanisms, regulatory oversight, accountability measures and enforcement provisions.
