The National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) has revealed a troubling fact about child mortality, reporting that only 30% of childbirths occur in healthcare facilities, meaning just three out of every ten deliveries take place under professional medical care.
The data further indicated that this trend is consistent in Gombe and Taraba states. In Taraba, 67% of deliveries happen at home, while half of all deliveries in Gombe also occur outside healthcare facilities. Alarmingly, the data revealed that only 30% of children in Bauchi and Taraba receive postnatal care, while just half of the infants in Gombe have access to it. Additionally, the NDHS found that three out of ten children across these states are not immunised.
Remarks From a JUTH Paediatrician
The data revealed a concerning trend: only 30% of children in Bauchi and Taraba receive postnatal care, while in Gombe, just half of the infants have access to such care. Additionally, the NDHS reported that three out of ten children in these states are not immunised.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim for countries to lower the neonatal mortality rate to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030. As of 2023, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia have achieved rates of around 3%, while Ghana reports 21, Niger 34.3, and Nigeria 41.
Supporting this, Dr. Adah Ruth, a paediatrician at JUTH, highlighted that the death of a child represents a profound loss to humanity. She stressed that every child has a right to life, as enshrined in the constitution and affirmed by the Child Rights Convention.
During a one-day media dialogue organized by UNICEF on Thursday in Jos, Dr. Ruth described the death of any child as a “loss of genetic code” for that individual. She explained that every child holds the potential to address a problem in life, and losing a child means the loss of that potential.
She emphasized that a country’s mortality rate reveals much about its political will, health standards, and environmental conditions. She highlighted that various factors contribute to child deaths, including socioeconomic development, environmental factors, healthcare quality, access to services, and the overall health system.
Using Elon Musk as an example, she posed the question: if he had died as a baby, who would be addressing the challenges he is tackling today? This underscores the importance of ensuring every child’s right to life and the collective responsibility to reduce child mortality.
How To Prevent Child Mortality
Improving the health of pregnant women and new mothers is crucial for further reducing child mortality. Malnutrition in women can result in preterm births and low-birth-weight babies. Research shows that children who lose their mothers are more likely to die before their second birthday compared to those whose mothers survive.
While progress has been made, particularly in expanding key interventions like skilled delivery care, over half a million women still die annually due to pregnancy and childbirth complications. The priority must be delivering essential interventions at the community level as part of broader efforts to strengthen national health systems.
Widespread implementation of basic health measures—such as early and exclusive breastfeeding, immunization, vitamin A supplementation, and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to combat malaria—is vital for accelerating progress.
Providing basic education, particularly for girls, is essential for building on recent progress. Increasing access to education is a key step in growing the number of trained health workers, especially at the community level. Universal basic education also helps reduce poverty and boosts economic growth by enhancing productivity.
Moreover, education fosters positive behaviors and habits that improve individual health. Children who complete basic education grow up to be parents who can provide better care for their children and make more effective use of health and social services. Research shows that women with at least basic education are more likely to manage family size according to their resources, offer better care for their children, and ensure they attend school.
