(Minna)
Worried by the recent survey indicating that 195,000 children, 19,000 die before their 5th birthday, Niger state government has inaugurated a committee that will ensure drastic reduction in childhood morbidity and mortality rate sets .
Duaglobalnews reports that a more recent Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2013) shows that annual live-birth figure in Niger state is 195, 000 indicating that the state is the third highest burden of childhood pneumonia among all the 7 North-Central states.
Available Survey also indicate that nearly 6 million children under five years die every year globally, mainly from preventable causes, adding that most of these deaths are caused by Pneumonia and Diarrhea, the major killers of children, Under five years (U-5).
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Kolo, while inaugurating the Niger State Action Committee on Childhood Killer Diseases (NSACCKD) via a virtual meeting, over the weekend said the state government was worried and concerned about the trend.
The Committee has Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, Executive Director, State Primary Healthcare Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) as Chairman, Dr. Idris Mohammed Director, Public Health as Co-Chairman, Pharm. Patrick Gimba, IMCI Coordinator as Secretary, Dr. Aliyu Yabagi Shehu, Program Director CCRHS-PAS and 26 others as Members.
The committee unanimously agreed that there is the urgent need to ensure drastic reduction in the unfavourable Childhood U-5 Morbidity and Mortality from preventable diseases such as; Pneumonia and Diarrhoea in Niger state.
Team Leader of Niger PAS Partners and Project Director, Centre for Communication and Reproductive Health Services (CCRHS), Dr. Aliyu Yabagi Shehu expressed preparedness of the team to support the state government in ensuring that budgeted allocations are released on time.
Shehu, however, called for an increase in the availability of new drugs (Amoxicillin DT, Zn-Lo-ORS) across the entire Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres (facilities) in the state to prevent further loss of lives.
Yabagi said:, “With this committee put in place, there will be drastic reduction in the unfavourable Childhood U-5 Morbidity and Mortality from preventable Pneumonia and Diarrhoea across health facilities in Niger state.
“There should be improved effective and Sustainable funding to CKD through Implementation of CIP & Policy on CKD in Niger State that will help reduce 19, 000 under 5 deaths by 70% in the state by the year, 2022.”
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