By Suzan Edeh
Health experts have observed that 70 percent of child deaths in the country are preventable.
A health officer with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Bauchi Field Office, Oluseyi Olosunde while speaking at programme on Child Mortality in Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states in Jos, Plateau state capital, said that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations were developed to promote healthy lives and well-being for all children as well as end preventable deaths of newborns and under-5 children by 2030.
He said that from the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2023/2024 report, everyday, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under 5 children in rural areas, amounting to 157 per 1,000 live births, adding that the figure is double those in urban areas which amounts to 92 per 1,000 live births.
According to him, neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria stands at 41 per 1,000 live births,. representing 10 percent globally, infant mortality rate stands at 63 per 1,000 live births while for under 5, the mortality stands at 110 per 1,000 live births.
While making a comparison between the NDHS report of Child Mortality of 2018 and 2023/24, the UNICEF health officer said that the Northeast region for neonatal mortality recorded 43 out of every 1,000 live birth in the 2018 report to 2023/24, 77 for infant mortality with a slight drop in 2023/24 NDHS report while for under 5 mortality, the record showed 160 in 2018 report with a significant drop in mortality in the 2023/24 NDHS report.
Giving a breakdown on the health services in Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe state he said" From the report, about 7 out of 10 deliveries take place at home in Bauchi State representing 68.9% and Taraba state representing 67%.About 5 out 10 in Gombe state representing 51.5 %.
"About 3 out of 10 newborns in Bauchi representing 76.1% and Taraba representing 5 out of 10 in Gombe state have not been reached with postnatal care. 3 out of 10 children have not received any immunization."
Speaking earlier in her presentation on Infant, Neonatal and U5 Mortality, a Consultant Pediatrician with the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Dr Ruth Adah said that every child death is significant because every child carries a genetic code that contains the answer for the challenges of a country.
According to her, since it is the fundamental right of every child to live, child mortality of a country shows the fragility of the health system of a country as well as the level of socio-economic development of the country.
She said that the Northeast region has the worst child health indices/child mortality rate, adding that for Bauchi State for instance, out of every 1,000 live births, 48 die in the state every year.
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