Experts harps on collective efforts to prevent children from dying

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Health experts have stressed the need for collective and collaborative efforts from parents, caregivers, governments, development partners, media practitioners, community leaders, among others to address the increasing child mortality rate in the three North-Eastern states of Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba.

The experts made the call at a media dialogue themed: Keeping Every Child Alive: Ending Child Mortality in Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba states held at Crispan Hotel Jos, Plateau state on Thursday.

They also stressed the importance of children’s rights to be delivered in health facilities, attended by skilled and trained health worker, receive complete immunizations and have unhindered access to good nutrition and clean water as fundamental measures for survival.

Presenting a paper tittle: “Child Mortality – Exploring a Hydra-headed menace (Infant, Neonatal U 5), Dr. Adah Ruth, a Consultant Pediatrician at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), said there is the urgent need for all hands to be on deck to save the children who are leaders of tomorrow from dying.

Ruth who said a study indicated that 5 million children die within their first week of life every year due to preventable causes globally, observed that the high rate of child mortality in Africa, particularly in Nigeria were as a result of determinants such as poor socio-economic conditions, inadequate health infrastructure, malnutrition, and unhygienic environments.

She explained that the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) indicated that an estimated 41 children out of 1,000 live births die daily, 63 out of 1,000 infants, and 110 out of 1,000 children Under-five die yearly.

The NDHS indicated that the North-East subregion of Nigeria ranked the second-highest mortality rate in the country, which poses serious threat to fundamental rights of children to life.

For Bauchi State, the survey observed that under-five mortality has worsened in recent times with deaths rising from 41 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 48 per 1,000 in 2023.

On his part, Health Officer with the Bauchi Field Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Oluseyi Olosunde, said that the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2023-2024 report indicated that between 1990-2010, about 50% of reduction in Child Mortality was due to interventions beyond the health sector.

The report mentioned that child health is an outcome of multiple determinants such as quality education, availability of Water and Sanitation, affordable clean energy, reduced inequality, peace, justice and strong institution, industry and infrastructure, climate action, among others.

Oluseyi Olosunde urged the need for collective effort to ensure children’s health and well-being are given proper attention, adding that 70% of child mortality cases in Nigeria are preventable through breastfeeding, hand-washing, immunization, proper nutrition, and access to clean water.

According to Olosunde, the NDHS report showed that under Neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria, 41 children die per 1000 live births, representing 10% of the total global neonatal mortality rate.

Showing the data, Olosunde said Nigeria accounts for 1 million of the 5 million global child deaths each year, adding that for Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba, mortality rates of 38, 45, and 37 children per 1,000 lives birth respectively were reported.

It stated that Nigeria loses about 2,300 under 5 year children daily, with rural areas accounting for 157, almost double those in urban areas (92).

The report noted that conflict and insecurity which disrupts healthcare services, displace populations, and create a non-conducive
environment to poor maternal and
newborn health outcomes has contributed to child deaths.

The survey observed that inadequate data collection and
monitoring as a result of weak health system hinder the effective implementation of health interventions and policies tailored to reduce neonatal mortality.

Socio-economic inequities
Low income families versus High, Geographical inequities (Rural vs Urban), Socio-Cultural Inequities, Cultural practices, Gender Inequities, Gender norms and roles, Educational Inequities, among others were identified as key inequities contributing to the high newborn
mortality rate in Nigeria, particularly
Northeast Central (NEC) States.

Earlier in a goodwill message, the Chief of Field Office (CFO), Bauchi Field Office (BFO) of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr Nuzhat Rafique urged the participants to intensify efforts towards creating awareness on the urgent need to curb child mortality in Nigeria .

Represented during the dialogue by Health Specialist with the UNICEF, Dr. David Audu, the Chief of Field Office reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to protecting children’s rights, ensuring access to quality healthcare, education, and their welfare.

Also in another presentation, the UNICEF’s Health Specialist in Bauchi Field Office, Dr. David Audu identified major causes of child mortality to include complications from premature birth, pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhea, and malaria.

The health expert who noted that half of the deaths occur in newborns, mentioned some of the contributing factors as poverty, inadequate nutrition, unsafe drinking water, poor maternal health, limited access to quality healthcare, and cultural practices.