The United Nations Kids’s Fund (UNICEF) reviews that 91 per cent of ladies in Rivers give start with the help of expert start attendants.
UNICEF Well being Supervisor, Dr. Martin Dohlsten, disclosed this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt throughout a media dialogue on neonatal healthcare, childhood diseases, and vaccination.
Based on Dohlsten, solely 46 per cent of ladies in Nigeria general ship with the assistance of docs, nurses, or midwives.
He famous that the excessive maternal and neonatal mortality charges within the nation had been linked to the presence or absence of expert start attendants throughout supply.
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Dohlsten additionally revealed that 32 per cent of new child deaths in Nigeria occurred inside the first 28 days of life, primarily as a consequence of untimely start or start asphyxia.
Moreover, 79 per cent of neonatal deaths are attributable to infections, prematurity, and asphyxia.
He recognized a number of elements contributing to those deaths, together with unstable electrical energy, a scarcity of expert start attendants, weak referral techniques, and the absence of scientific tips for maternal and new child care.
Nonetheless, he emphasised that with the suitable insurance policies and the availability of primary healthcare companies, important progress in neonatal healthcare may very well be achieved.
In the meantime, UNICEF Well being Specialist in Rivers, Dr Abe Eghe, reported that the state achieved 78 per cent of its measles vaccination protection goal in 2024.
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He highlighted UNICEF’s ongoing assist for the state’s supplementary immunisation efforts and routine vaccination programmes.
Based on him, UNICEF ensures that the state has ample sources, technical help, and monetary assist to enhance immunization protection.
“Presently we’re additionally supporting them with an enormous catch-up marketing campaign, the place we are attempting to achieve these kids who had been missed through the COVID period.
“At the moment, there was a discount in immunization protection after the COVID period, as a result of lots of individuals weren’t capable of entry immunization. So we’re making an attempt to see how we will catch up.
“We proceed to assist them with neighborhood engagement.
“We’re reaching out to the neighborhood to encourage moms, encourage caregivers, and likewise reaching out to conventional leaders to see how we will additional enhance their uptake of immunization.”
Eghe described measles as a vaccine-preventable illness that continued to trigger important mortality and morbidity in creating nations.
He defined that the virus was transmitted via airborne respiratory droplets and different means, remaining infectious within the air for as much as two hours even after an contaminated individual had left the world.
Based on him, these at highest danger of contracting measles embrace unvaccinated kids, infants underneath 5 years outdated, malnourished kids, adults over 30, unvaccinated pregnant ladies, and people with weakened immune techniques.
Equally, the Chief Area Officer for Port Harcourt, Dr. Anslem Audu, highlighted neonatal healthcare and childhood diseases as ongoing challenges in Nigeria.
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He emphasised that too many kids continued to endure from preventable ailments, resulting in untimely deaths and long-term well being problems.
Based on him, too many kids nonetheless face untimely deaths and debilitating well being points that might in any other case be prevented
“Lately, we now have witnessed outstanding progress in maternal and baby well being, nonetheless, our work is way from over.
“Neonatal mortality is an pressing precedence, and we should proceed to advocate for and implement interventions that guarantee each baby receives the healthcare they deserve from the second they’re born.”.
He added that it was essential for the nation’s healthcare techniques to be strengthened, whereas additionally emphasising the necessity to enhance entry to high quality companies, and lift consciousness concerning the significance of early and steady healthcare for youngsters.
Audu stated that one of the vital efficient instruments was vaccination and that the MR vaccine, which protected kids towards measles and rubella, was a cornerstone of efforts to stop debilitating childhood illnesse.
