2,300 Nigerian children,145 women die daily, says NPHCDA
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, stated that too many women continue to die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth complications, and too many children do not reach the fifth birthday due to preventable diseases.Aina spoke on Monday in Abuja at the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development's two-day engagement meeting with religious leaders from northern Nigeria on vaccination and maternal and child health, which is being supported by NPHCDA.
The NPHCDA chief also stated that Nigeria has recorded 70 cases of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 in 46 Local Government Areas across 14 northern states.
"Every day, Nigeria loses approximately 2,300 under-five-year-old children and 145 women of childbearing age. The majority of these deaths are occurring in northern Nigeria.
"Also, Nigeria is currently experiencing intense transmission of the circulating variant poliovirus type 2, with 70 cVPV2 detected in 46 LGAs across 14 Northern states. This indicates that the virus is being transmitted continuously as a result of low routine immunization rates and vaccine refusal 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 immunizations according to the national schedule and is vaccinated whenever vaccination teams visit their home. Together, we must work to build a system that ensures no mother or child is left behind."
Aina urged religious leaders to renew their commitment to the health of their people and communities.
"We must prioritize removing barriers to care, ensuring equitable access to services, and fostering trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve." Our combined efforts can create an environment in which every Nigerian child is immunized and every Nigerian mother receives the care she requires.
"To conclude, I'd like to thank His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, and His Eminence, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh, for consistently mobilizing traditional and religious leaders to support immunization and other Primary Health Care programs. I'd also like to thank the Sultan Foundation and other partners for their unwavering support and commitment to improving health outcomes in Nigeria," he said.
Dr Walter Mulombo, the World Health Organization's Country Representative, stated in his goodwill message that partnership is a critical vehicle for achieving the broader goal of universal health coverage.
He continued: "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."
The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, emphasized the need for religious leaders to promote development, peace, and security.
According to him, health and security are critical to Nigeria's development.
"The Sultan Foundation's work demonstrates the power of collaboration. Established to promote sustainable development and social cohesion, the foundation has made significant progress in health, education, and economic empowerment.
"By partnering with organisations like UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation, and other stakeholders, the foundation demonstrates the potential for collective impact," said the CEO.
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