UNICEF said that new report on new born mortality indicated that every year over 2.6 million new born died at their first month of lives around the world it appealed to governments, health care providers, donors, the private sector, families and businesses men to do all their best in reducing the rate of infant mortality and ensure that every child survived in the country.
This was stated at the Press Release issued by UNICEF on the occasion of Every Child ALIVE campaign launched which is aimed at reducing the child mortality in developing countries.
It said Global deaths of newborn babies remain alarmingly high, particularly among the world’s poorest countries especially Nigeria as the 11th highest on newborn deaths.
In the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the Government of Nigeria in 2016/17, the rate of newborn deaths per 1000 births is 37. This national average hides the differences between the 36 states and the slow progress in some of them.
It stated that more than 80 per cent of newborn deaths are due to prematurity, asphyxia, complications during birth or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis.
Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director said that the majority of these deaths are preventable with access to well-trained midwives during antenatal and postnatal visits as well as delivery at a health facility, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact, proper cord care, and good nutrition.
“However, a shortage of well-trained health workers and midwives means that thousands don’t receive the life-saving support they need to survive”.
UNICEF urged stallholders to focuses more and ensure children survival through recruitment, training, retaining and managing sufficient numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives with expertise in maternal and newborn care.
Also to provides clean, functional health facilities equipped with water, soap and electricity, within the reach of every mother and baby and making it a priority to provide every mother and baby with the life-saving drugs and equipment needed for a healthy start in life and empowering adolescent girls, mothers and families to demand and receive quality care.
