By
Akanta Hannah
Experts at a one day media dialogue in Jos, Plateau state want stakeholders in the health sector to collectively take deliberate action towards ending child mortality in Nigeria.
The media dialogue organised by UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office in Jos brought together participants from Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba states.
Recent statistics from the National Demographic Health Survey indicate that children under five continue to die from preventable causes annually with Northeast recording one of the highest rates when compared with other parts of the country.
In a presentation titled, Child Mortality – Exploring a Hydra-Headed Menace (Infant, Neonatal, Under 5) a Consultant Pediatrician at Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ruth Adah pointed out that, globally, five million children die from preventable causes every year.
She further explained that the recent National Demographic Health Survey in Nigeria reveals that 41 out of 1000 live births newborns, 63 out of 1000 infants and 110 out of 1000 under five children die every year with the northeast region of Nigeria recording the second-highest mortality rate.
Dr. Adah emphasized that every child born deserves to live and be protected, hence the need for stakeholders to collectively address the menace of child mortality in the country.
In another presentation on the “Drivers of Child Mortality”, the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Health Specialist, Dr Amos Audu identified pneumonia, malaria, lack of oxygen and birth complications as major causes with underlying issues including poverty, poor maternal health, lack of antenatal care, poor access to quality healthcare, cultural practices, low education and malnutrition.
Also speaking, Unicef Health Officer, Dr. Oluseyi Olusunde said in order to tackle child mortality, government, partners, community leaders, media organisations, health workers, and caregivers have significant roles to play.
According to him, the government needs to make strategic investments in the health sector with technical support from partners, thereby strengthening collaboration.
He called on journalists to make valid contributions and monitor the primary healthcare system to further improve accountability.
Seyi encouraged community leaders to help break every barrier against standard health practices in their communities, calling on caregivers to as well pay more attention to the health of their children always.
By 2030, all countries are expected to reduce neonatal mortality to 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to 25 per 1,000 live births under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
