Nigeria’s newborn deaths rise despite drop in under-five mortality — Pate

Urges stronger prevention, early detection

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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has disclosed that Nigeria has recorded an increase in neonatal mortality despite a decline in under-five deaths, calling for stronger preventive healthcare interventions to address the country’s persistent child survival challenges.

According to Pate, neonatal mortality increased from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 41 in 2024, even as under-five mortality declined from 132 to 110 deaths per 1,000 live births within the same period.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the commemoration of the third National Health Promotion Day.

The event, held under the theme “Health Promotion: Owning My Health”, with the slogan “Take Charge, Live Well”, focused on the importance of disease prevention, early diagnosis and individual responsibility in improving health outcomes.

Pate, who cited figures from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, said the contrasting mortality trends reflected progress in some areas and persistent challenges in others, underscoring the need to accelerate preventive interventions and ensure timely access to quality healthcare.

He also cited World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates, which put Nigeria’s healthy life expectancy at birth at 54.1 years in 2023, stressing the need to extend the number of years Nigerians live in good health.

According to him, health promotion must be treated as a strategic investment in the country’s health system rather than merely an awareness campaign.

He said the approach was central to the Federal Government’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which prioritises maternal and child health, strengthening primary healthcare, expanding immunisation and tackling non-communicable diseases.

Other priorities, he said, include reducing the burden of HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, improving nutrition, detecting hypertension, preventing cervical cancer and advancing hepatitis elimination through initiatives such as Project 365.

The minister stressed that the effectiveness of these interventions must be assessed through measurable results, including the number of people reached, health risks identified, referrals completed, access to treatment achieved and avoidable illnesses prevented.

He urged stakeholders to move beyond counting awareness activities to demonstrating how health promotion programmes improve people’s lives.

“Health promotion must therefore be understood as a strategic investment in our health system, not merely an awareness campaign,” he said.

Pate also warned that providing health information without ensuring access to screening and treatment would undermine public health efforts.

He asked Nigerians to understand the importance of medical screening and said they must be able to access the services, while patients diagnosed early should receive appropriate treatment and quality care.

He called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, schools, workplaces, the media and the private sector to promote healthy diets, physical activity, good hygiene, mental well-being, vaccination and routine screening.

The minister further urged stakeholders to confront health misinformation and ensure that vulnerable and underserved communities were not excluded from preventive healthcare programmes.

He called on Nigerians to take responsibility for their health by seeking credible information, knowing their health risks, participating in recommended screening and immunisation programmes, and seeking medical attention promptly when necessary.

Earlier, development partners and civil society organisations reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in advancing health promotion.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) emphasised the importance of community engagement, health literacy, gender equality and access to sexual and reproductive health services, particularly for women and young people.

CARE International also pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at changing health-related behaviour at the community level.

Other stakeholders and partners, including the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN), highlighted the importance of family planning, healthy nutrition and routine screening for hypertension and diabetes.

Participants at the event were encouraged to take advantage of screening services provided at the venue as part of efforts to promote early detection and encourage Nigerians to take charge of their health.

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