Nigeria Loses 2,300 Children, 145 Women Daily- NPHCDA

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency(NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, has disclosed that every day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under five years old children and 145 women of childbearing age.

These deaths, Aina stated, were due to preventable diseases and complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Aina who disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at an ongoing two-day engagement meeting on vaccination and maternal and child health with religious leaders from northern Nigeria organised by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development with support from NPHCDA, also noted that most of these deaths are occurring in northern Nigeria.

He also disclosed that Nigeria has recorded a total of 70 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 from 46 Local Government Areas across 14 northern states.

“Every day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under five years old children and 145 women of childbearing age. Most of these deaths are occurring in northern Nigeria.

“Also, Nigeria is currently witnessing intense transmission of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2, with a total of 70 cVPV2 from 46 LGAs across 14 Northern states. This is an indication of continuous transmission of the virus due to low routine immunisation, and refusal of vaccines during polio campaigns.

“This must change. We must ensure that every woman has access to antenatal care, that every pregnancy is delivered by trained and skilled midwives, and that every child completes their routine
Immunisation according to the National schedule and gets vaccinated every time vaccination teams visit their homes. Together, we must work to create a system that ensures no mother or child is left behind,” he said.

He emphasised the urgent need to address these deaths, while calling for a collective effort to ensure that every Nigerian child is immunised and every Nigerian mother receives the care she deserves.

“We must focus on breaking down barriers to care, ensuring equitable access to services, and building trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. Our collective efforts can create an environment where every Nigerian child is immunised and every Nigerian mother receives the care she deserves.

“In conclusion, I would like to once again thank His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and His Eminence, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh, for always mobilising traditional and religious leaders to support immunization and other Primary Health Care programmes. I also want to thank the Sultan Foundation and other partners for your unwavering support and dedication to improving health outcomes in Nigeria,” he said.

In his goodwill message, the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation, Dr Walter Mulombo, said partnership is a critical vehicle in achieving the broader goal of universal health coverage.

“This partnership is also aligned to the primary healthcare approach, the bedrock of Nigeria’s Health Policy, and a whole-of-society approach to health that aims to ensure the highest possible level of health and well-being, equitably distributed across all communities,” he said.

On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar noted that the Foundation’s work exemplifies the power of collaboration.

He therefore called on the religious leaders to work together to promote development, peace, and security.