Nigeria: New Born Death Toll Highest in Africa
By Lilian Museka
The New data shows that as the death toll in Nigeria is falling, the percentage of deaths that happen in the first month of life is increasing. Newborn deaths now make up 28 per cent of all deaths under five years compared to 24 per cent two years ago. Six out of 10 mothers give birth at home without access to skilled care during childbirth and it is in the first few days of life when both women and newborns are most at risk.
The report, unveiled Thursday at the 42nd annual Paediatric Association of Nigeria Conference calls for an increased focus on reducing newborn deaths, the vast majority of which are avoidable.
It says thousands of newborn lives can be saved via simple methods, such as teaching mothers about danger signs, encouraging them to seek help early and making sure there is enough medicine and enough healthcare workers at community health centres. The policies are mostly in place and the cost is affordable so now priority must be given to implementing these policies and making sure all families receive essential care.
“The loss of a baby at birth or soon after is a very traumatic experience, especially when the majority of these deaths can be prevented with well known interventions. Such loss affects the family, and also carries social and economic ramifications for the nation, creating a vicious cycle that keeps families in poverty,” said Save the Children in Nigeria’s Country Director, Susan Grant, adding that “The health and survival of Nigeria’s newborns has gone unnoticed for too long.”
The report reveals that there is wide variation in mortality across Nigeria. Nearly 3,000 mothers, newborns and children die every day but there is a big difference between states, between urban and rural areas and between the poorest and the richest. This is partly due to the fact that, although the Nigerian health system is rich in human resources compared to many other African countries, there is inequitable distribution of maternal, newborn and child health staff across the country.
For example, while over 90 per cent of women in two states – Anambra and Imo – give birth with a skilled attendant present, in 6 states - Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Yobe, fewer than one in ten women have access to skilled care at birth.
The report includes up-to-date child and maternal health profiles for each of the 36 states in Nigeria, as well as national data in order to make local decision making more effective.
Mickey Chopra, UNICEF Chief of Health and the global Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health co-chair applauded Nigeria for the report focusing on state level data and critical coverage, equity and quality gaps.
He called on the technical and political leaders in Nigeria to use the data to set evidence-based priorities invest in implementation and be accountable for change, especially for the poorest families.
Nigeria is one of the first African countries with an integrated plan to look after mothers, newborns and children right through from conception to the child’s fifth birthday.
“We need more funding for maternal, newborn and child health, and specifically a budget line for newborn health in national and state budgets,” says Dr Nkeiru Oneukwusi, Head of the Child Health Division at the Federal Ministry of Health.
The report called on decision makers to eensure leadership, appropriate funding and accountability, Prioritize tackling malnutrition, stating that more than a third of children’s deaths are attributed to maternal and child under nutrition, so it must be addressed to attain the Millennium Development Goals on eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.
Others include orient policies, guidelines and services to include newborn care, effectively plan for and implement policies related to human resources, equipment and supplies and accelerate implementation of the highest-impact and most feasible interventions using a clear, data-based process.