Infant Mortality in Nigeria: Efforts and Challenges in Cross River State

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By EDITH NWOVU

Infant mortality remains a critical public health concern in Nigeria, where thousands of children die each year before their first birthday.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Nigeria has one of the highest infant mortality rates globally, with approximately 74 deaths per 1,000 live births.

This translates to hundreds of thousands of infant deaths annually, highlighting the urgent need for effective interventions to combat this tragic loss of life.

Globally, 2.3 million children die within the first 28 days of life, accounting for 47% of all child deaths under the age of 5 years.

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO), indicates that 75% of these neonatal deaths occur in the first week, with nearly one million newborns dying within the first 24 hours.

In Nigeria, a significant portion of these deaths is linked to pneumonia, birth asphyxia, hypoxemia and hypoxia, exacerbated by a lack of access to quality healthcare.

UNICEF reports that 60% of maternal, newborn, and child mortality in the country is due to poor healthcare infrastructure and services.

Oxygen availability plays a crucial role in reducing infant mortality, potentially lowering it by up to 35%.

However, in Nigeria, oxygen systems remain largely unavailable in rural health centers, leaving many newborns at risk.

In Cross River State, situated in South-South part of Nigeria, UNICEF has stepped in to address this challenge by establishing an oxygen gas plant at the Mary Slessor General Hospital, Calabar.

During a recent media engagement in the state, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, Dr. Kenneth Takim said the plant, which produces 300 liters of oxygen per minute, has significantly reduced infant morbidity and mortality over the last four years.

“This Oxygen Gas Plant was commissioned on the 24th of May, 2024 by the governor of our state, Senator Prince Bassey Otu and since then, we have been producing oxygen which has gone a long way to meeting the needs of oxygen in our facility and even beyond. We no longer have any shortage of oxygen as all oxygen demands are always met,” he said.

Dr. Takim however stressed the need to solarise the plant and employ more staff to man the facility to enable it to function optimally.

Despite this progress, vaccine shortages pose another critical barrier to infant survival in Cross River State.

The Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Vivien Otu, revealed that while essential vaccines like the measles vaccine and Pentavalent vaccine were available, frequent stockouts and infrastructure challenges disrupt immunization efforts.

“Immunisation coverage is dismal, with statistics revealing that only 21% of children aged 12 to 23 months in the state are fully vaccinated. This presents a glaring gap in the efforts to protect children from preventable diseases and underscores the urgent need for intervention in the state’s primary healthcare system. One of the critical barriers to immunisation is the shortage of vaccines to meet the growing needs of the population,” she explained.

Dr. Otu further explained that many families, especially in rural areas, were unaware of the importance of vaccination, while others struggle to access health and immunization services due to long distances, bad roads, and lack of adequate healthcare facilities.

During a tour of health facilities, journalists observed significant challenges. At the Ekpo Abasi Primary Health Centre in Calabar South, Health Officer Mrs. Bassey Oyama reported serving over 160 patients daily, emphasizing the need for more staff and expanded infrastructure to meet growing demands.

Similarly, at the Ikot Offiong Ambai Primary Health Centre in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, the dilapidated facility struggles to cater to ten surrounding communities.

Head Nurse Atim Okon Jimmy lamented vaccine shortages, noting that on immunization days; usually every Thursday, up to 40 mothers bring their children for vaccination.

“It’s not just immunisations. They also come for treatments, tests, and other healthcare services as well,” Nurse Atim said.

More often than not, traditional birth attendants remain common in Cross River State, posing risks to maternal and child health.

Mrs. Blessing Festus, a breastfeeding mother, shared her experience, advocating for trained healthcare professionals over traditional practices to prevent infant deaths.

Another breastfeeding mother, Imabong Idoreyin urged pregnant women to prioritize antenatal care and ensure timely vaccinations for their children.

Despite the immense benefits, UNICEF data shows that over 30% of Nigerian women do not attend antenatal care at primary health centers.

This lack of access significantly contributes to Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate of 576 per 100,000 live births, one of the highest in the world.

To address these challenges, the Health Manager of UNICEF, Martin Dohlsten UNICEF noted that the organisation established seven level two newborn units across Nigeria to improve neonatal care.

While some progress has been made, neonatal mortality rates have remained stagnant since 1990, with 60% of deliveries still occurring at home.

Dohlsten emphasized that UNICEF is committed to enhancing maternal and newborn health services in alignment with the vision of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to ensure sustainable healthcare delivery systems and a healthier future for Nigerian children.

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