According to Prof. Joseph Ngbea, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services in Benue State, approximately 2,300 children below the age of five die in Nigeria every day due to preventable illnesses.
The commissioner, while flagging off the first round of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Week, shared that no less than 145 women of childbearing age die every day in the country due to preventable diseases.
He expressed his sorrow over the fact that Nigeria has one of the highest death rates globally for young children and women of childbearing age, and unfortunately, the situation is not improving significantly.
Ngbea cited the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, stating that the deaths could have been prevented with basic measures.
The survey also revealed that despite Nigeria having only 2% of the world’s population, it accounts for 14% of global maternal deaths. Before their 15th birthday, one out of every eight Nigerian children die. Nigeria accounts for almost 10% of infant deaths.
Ngbea also stated that the MNCHW was organised yearly “to deliver an integrated package of highly cost-effective, yet result-oriented promotive, preventive and curative services.
“These services are delivered to strengthen routine services at health facilities. The mechanism is used to consolidate services that immediately demonstrate impact.”