Nigeria records 2,300 under-five children deaths through preventable diseases
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nigeria daily loses 2,300 under-five children and 145 women of childbearing age to preventive diseases, according to Benue Health and Human Resources Commissioner, Joseph Ngbea.
Ngbea, a Professor, spoke at the flagging off the first round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Makurdi, lamenting how “Nigeria has one of the highest death rates in the world among young children and women of childbearing age, and the trend is not improving satisfactorily.”
He quoted the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and insisted “these deaths are often preventable with relatively simple measures.
“NDHS in 2018 estimated that Nigeria makes up only two per cent of the World’s population but accounts for 14 per cent of the global maternal death burden.
“One in every eight Nigerian children dies before their 15th birthday. Nearly 10 per cent of newborn deaths occur in Nigeria.
“Every day Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five children and 145 women of childbearing age. An estimated 10 per cent of these deaths are often preventable with relatively simple measures.”
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Purpose of MNCHW
Ngbea explained the MNCHW is organised yearly “to deliver an integrated package of highly cost-effective, yet result-oriented promotive, preventive and curative services, per Vanguard.
“These services are delivered to strengthen routine services at health facilities. The mechanism is used to consolidate services that immediately demonstrate impact.”
Ashi Wende, Benue Primary Health Care Board Executive Secretary, said the week-long biannual event, which presents the opportunity to scale up health services, “is a strategy to deliver a free package of high impact and cost-effective interventions.
“These interventions are essential to improving the health of women of childbearing age as well as children under the age of five years in Nigeria.
“Its main aim is to deliver a package of basic services proven to be highly effective in the reduction of mortality and morbidity among mothers and their children.”
