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By Tracy Moses
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has celebrated the safe delivery of its first-ever set of quadruplets through the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (CEmONC) initiative.
The quadruplets- two boys and two girls, were born via caesarean section on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital in Azare, Bauchi State. The mother, 35-year-old Hauwa Usman, was originally diagnosed with a triplet pregnancy and fetal malpresentation, but astonishingly gave birth to four babies.
NHIA’s Director General, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, represented by Bauchi State Coordinator Mustapha Mohammed, applauded the hospital team for the successful outcome, calling it “proof of the lifesaving capabilities of the CEmONC programme.”
He also commended the quick-thinking actions of the children’s father, Abubakar Adamu, a subsistence farmer, who rushed his wife from their village, Gambaki, located 35 kilometers from Azare, to the teaching hospital. Dr. Ohiri noted that the swift decision was critical in safeguarding the lives of both mother and babies, while also preventing significant financial strain on the family.
“The CEmONC programme aims to reduce the main causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria, while shielding families from economic hardship,” said Dr. Ohiri. “For Hauwa and her loved ones, all services were rendered at no cost, and this reflects our commitment to improved maternal and child health under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Speaking on behalf of the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Dr. Dauda A. Katagum, the Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Sani Abdullahi Giade, shared that over 422 pregnant women have so far accessed the facility’s CEmONC services, with Hauwa’s delivery marking the first recorded quadruplet birth. He lauded the NHIA for an initiative he said has saved numerous lives and eased the burden on underserved families.
Dr. Achanpa Anemona Sunday, Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology, revealed that the patient was initially scheduled for an emergency caesarean to deliver triplets, but the surgical team was surprised to find and deliver a fourth baby. He urged both government bodies and the community to lend support in caring for the mother and her newborns.
Expressing his joy and appreciation, the father, Abubakar Adamu, called the birth of his four children “a true blessing” and appealed for financial aid to help him meet the demands of his growing family.
The agency reiterated its resolve to broaden the reach of the CEmONC programme across Nigeria, emphasizing its mission to ensure no woman or child loses their life to preventable complications during pregnancy or childbirth