Stakeholders from Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe state have advocated for access to the services of skilled birth attendants routine immunization and postnatal care to curb Child Mortality in the country.
The Stakeholders made their position known yesterday during a media dialogue on Ending child mortality organized by UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, held at the Crispan Hotel and Suite in Plateau State.
Speaking on “Trends of Child Mortality in Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba State”the UNICEF health officer at the Bauchi field officer, Oluseyi Olosunde said that a child’s health is an outcome of multiple determinants which include no poverty, quality education, gender equity, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, peace justice and strong institution.
He quoted from the NDHS report of 2023/24, saying that every year Nigeria records 1 million under 5 deaths, representing 10 percent of the global, adding that an estimated 70 percent of these deaths are preventable.
“According to the report 2023/24 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”
“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 with 5 out of 10 in Gombe state have not been reached with postnatal care. 3 out of 10 children have not received any immunization”
“There are two indicators for deliveries, that is deliveries that are assisted by skilled health workers and deliveries that takes place in the health facility.
“What we want is for all deliveries to take place at the health facilities whether it is at the primary health centers or hospitals.However, there are deliveries supported by skilled health workers that may not take place in the facility, but it is a risky thing because if there are complications, those instruments that needs to be used may not be available at home.Another thing is that the risk of infection is higher at home than in the health facility” he said
Also in his presentation on Drivers of Child Mortality in the Northeast, and I UNICEF Health Specialist in the Bauchi Field Office, David Audu said that nearly half of under 5 deaths takes place in the first 28 days of a child’s life, adding that 50 percent of the deaths happens in the first two days .
According to him, the rates of Child mortality in Nigeria and the Northeast Central (NEC) region are influenced by a combination of immediate and underlying causes.
“The leading causes of death in children under-5 years are preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria. The immediate causes of Neonatal Mortality include Preterm Birth Complications,
Neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections and Birth Asphyxia” he said. END
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