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Tag: UNICEF

  • UNICEF, Commission make case for birth registration

    UNICEF, Commission make case for birth registration

    Moved by the importance of birth registration to the nation’s development the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Population Commission (NpopC) are collaborating with the media to improve birth registration in the country. To acquaint the media with issues surrounding birth registration, they held a workshop in Kaduna for journalists from across the country, reports Evelyn Osagie.

    Today’s developmental challenges and security requirements has raised a renewed concern of population experts for having in place a veritable registration system.

    An effective system of vital registration is critical in the life of any nation, experts have said.

    It is this concern that informed the policy decision to ensure 100 per cent registration coverage by 2015, according to the Chairman, National Population Commission (NpopC), Abuja, Mr Eze Duruiheoma (SAN). Describing “Civil Registration” as the continuous, permanent and compulsory recording of the occurrence of vital events, such as births, deaths, morbidity, marriages, divorces, etc, by a registrar on a continuous basis in accordance with the legal requirements of a country, Mr Duruiheoma said, it provides government with needed information that would help in policy interventions to improve the quality and standard of live of the citizenry.

    He decried the low rate of birth and death registration coverage of hard to reach areas, particularly in the Northern. He noted that despite the commission’s efforts and the 36,000 registration centres across the country, the 2013 Demographic Health Survey say 43 out of every 100 child under the age of five go missing at birth.

    To change the trend, the Commission Chairman said the commission is partnering with relevant agencies and bodies. “The commission has embarked on multi-sectoral approach via collaboration with all relevant agencies, such as UNICEF, and institutions to consolidate the gains. UNICEF has been remarkable and outstanding in this effort. The Commission with the support of UNICEF have established excellent working relationship with the health sector.

    “Integrating birth registration services into the national health care delivery is on-going basic service program that avails the Commission the use health centres and personnel to boost the registration. Similar partnership is being worked out with the Education sector, faith-based organisations and some NGOs to improve on the registration outreach and coverage,” Mr Duruiheoma said.

    He made the observations at a three-day workshop for journalists in Kaduna in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

    While blaming the low rate on the lack of adequate public awareness on the importance of birth registration and ingrained socio-cultural beliefs that impacts negatively on registering births and deaths, he said: “The commission is partnering with the media  to intensify publicity and public enlightenment of the vital registration exercise, particularly at the grass root level”.

    The key messages developed by the media on birth and death registration along with the commission’s efforts, according to the Hon. Usman Ya’u Jama’a, Federal Commissioner representing Kaduna State, is sure to “greatly ameliorate the daunting challenges of ignorance and inadequate enlightenment that is posing a serious challenge to our efforts at attaining  the 100% registration by 2015”.

    On her part, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Child Protection Specialist, Sharon Oladiji has raised concern over the refusal of the leadership of seven out of the 29 out of the 36 states to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) with NpopC. She urged other the states, which include Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to draw inspiration from their counterparts.

    Communication Specialist with UNICEF Abuja Office, Mr Geoffrey Njoku, expressed hope that the dreams of attaining 100 per cent birth registration rate in 2015 can be achievable through the help of the media. He called for support from media practitioners and administrators, saying: “Vital Registration is the rights of every child and aids national development.” He said: “UNICEF is collaboration with the Vital Registration Department of NpopC to scale up birth registration rates, especially in the country’s northern parts. We call on the media to be at the vanguard of the campaign.”

    Communication Officer, UNICEF Lagos Office, Blessing Ejiofor, called for the cooperation of every citizen in ensuring that their wards are duly registered, while urging government at all levels to put in place laws that would require parent to compulsorily register their wards.

    At the end of the workshop, participants said, they were ever so determined to lend their voices to the campaign.

  • Clock ticks against child, maternal health

    Clock ticks against child, maternal health

    Maternal and child mortality are inextricably linked. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA, just back from the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, writes on why Nigeria may not be able to achieve the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5 by the 2015 deadline.

    NIGERIA, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), lost about 2,300 under-five-year olds and 145 women of childbearing age daily in 2012.  Also, the Countdown 2014 report recorded 40,000 maternal deaths in 2013. About 110 deaths were due to or related to pregnancy.

    This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under–five and maternal mortality rate in the world. With 489 days to the deadline of Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs), Nigeria, from all indications, may not realise MDGs 4 and 5.

    As we enter the final 489 days of the MDGs era, globally, more than half (51·8 per cent) of children still die from infectious causes, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria.

    Together, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and China have the highest number of child deaths. They all contribute to about half of all child and neonatal deaths globally in 2013. The results are published in the latest edition of The Lancet.

    MDG 4 aims at reducing, by two- thirds (between 1990 and 2015), the under-five mortality rate. Nigeria is unlikely to achieve this. Not when complications from preterm (premature) births and pneumonia are now the leading causes of death in children less than five years, which together are responsible globally for nearly two million deaths in 2013, according to the latest estimates published in The Lancet.

    MDG 5 wants to improve maternal health, because no woman should die giving birth. Yet, every day 800 women lose their lives in pregnancy or childbirth. The vast majority of these deaths occur in developing countries, including Nigeria.

    Maternal and child mortality are inextricably linked. When women are healthy and can choose when to marry, when to have children, where to have them and how many to have, their chances, and their children’s chances of survival improve drastically.

    Babies whose mothers die before they are just six weeks old are more likely to die before their second birthday than those whose mothers survive.

    Researchers led by Professor Robert Black, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA, used the latest available data and modeling methods to examine what caused an estimated 6.3 million global deaths of newborn babies (neonates) and children under five years in 2013.  They found that complications from preterm birth were the largest single cause, responsible for 965,000 deaths in under-fives, with pneumonia responsible for a further 935,000 deaths, and complications from childbirth (intrapartum complications) the next leading cause, responsible for 662, 000 deaths.

    Underneath the Nigerian statistics lies the pain of human tragedy, for thousands of families who have lost their children. Even more devastating is the knowledge that, according to recent research, essential interventions reaching women and babies on time would have averted most of these deaths.

    Although the joint efforts of the Federal and some state governments showed that the country is making progress in cutting down infant and under-five mortality rates, the pace still remains too slow to achieve the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child mortality by a third by 2015.

    Preventable or treatable infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per cent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria.

    Malnutrition is the underlying cause of morbidity and mortality of a large proportion of children under-5 in Nigeria. It accounts for more than 50 per cent of deaths of children in this age bracket.

    The deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represent a quartre of the total number of deaths of children under-five. The majority of these occur within the first week of life, mainly due to complications during pregnancy and delivery reflecting the intimate link between newborn survival and the quality of maternal care. Main causes of neonatal deaths are birth asphyxia, severe infection including tetanus and premature birth.

    Similarly, a woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria is one in 13. Although many of these deaths are preventable, the coverage and quality of health care services in Nigeria continue to fail women and children.

    Presently, less than 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants.

    The Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) and the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) have canvassed  the need for a close relationship between the well being of the mother and the child, and justifies the need to integrate maternal, newborn and child health interventions.

    It is important to note that wide regional disparities exist in child health indicators with the North-East and North-West geopolitical zones of the country having the worst child survival figures.

  • Club rescues detained nursing mothers

    The Rotary Club of Festac town Lagos offset the bill of 4 nursing mothers, who were indebted after deliveries at the Maternal and Child Centre, Festac Town, Lagos.

    The  women were spotted by the Rotarians during a tour of the wards.  Many of them sat helplessly, having being detained for two weeks or more after delivery, a gesture which costed the club 120,000 naira.

    The club also presented items for the centre. Items such as 50 bedsheets, 50 mosquito nets and 7 baby cribs were among other things. The women accepted the gestures with joy and wild jubilations in their wards. It came as a surprise to many of them. Others just wondered in bewilderment.

    The Maternal and Child centre  monthly delivers an average of 110 babies, said the Chief Matron, Mrs .Gbemisola Moradeyo, who led in the tour.

    President of the Rotary Club of Festac, Gabriel Onyema, said the club’s mission is to aleviate the problems and suffering of the people. He gave the cost of the donated items to be 985 thousand naira. This, he said was made possible by its individual members donation, together with well meaning people and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), which provided them with 2000 nets which will be distributed to women and children.

    He wondered why residents dont patronise the outfit, which he descibed as one with state of the art facilities. The president also noted that the Rotary is partnering with government to make life better for the people.

    “The scenery here is a happy one with lots of decorum. People are ignorant of the facilities I see , so I wonder why they wouldnt come for their deliveries here.”

    The high point of the visit was the presentation of a 3 minutes old baby, who the club members showered with gifts, money and prayers.

    Medical Director of the centre, Dr Ademuyiwa Eniayewun, said the gesture is a welcome development and called on others to emulate the club in its humanitarian works.

    The visit, the MD noted, is not only about the material and financial benefits, but goes a long way in giving the patients psychological and moral support.

    He boasted of the centre having the best facilities for pregnant and sick children, which will go a long way in reducing maternity and child mortality.

    In the next few weeks, the club will present the centre with incubators and other needed equipments.

  • Ekemini’s fetching the future

    Ekemini’s fetching the future

    Fetch the Future  is a collection of poems that addresses the need to look after and pay attention to children early on, in order to avoid personal and societal decay. The book emphasises that if children are trained and cared for in the right way, then a lot of crime and wrong acts will be nipped in the bud in the society.

    The book, Fetch the Future touches on a lot of aspects of upbringing that are essential for normal growth and development of a child.

    The author, Ekemini Francis’ use of  the language of poetry to convey her opinion is apt, but it is hoped that the structure of the poetry may not be lost on some children who are the primary target.

    The use of pictures in the book is refreshing, giving the book a twist especially for a poetry book.

    The author has a first degree in Modern Languages and Translation Studies, majoring in French form the Universite D’ Abomey Calavi in Republic of Benin.

    Ekemini’s passion for children is evident, hence the writing of the book and being the founder of Inspired Children Foundation (ICF).

    Her involvement in child development training from her university days, came in handy in the production of this book. Lessons from these programmes such as; UNICEF, Capacity Development Training to promote Social Change etc. were applied in this work.

    Fetch the Future can be said to be a basis in correcting from the root, vices that are prevalent in Nigeria and the world at large.

    For example, the Poem on page XV is an admonition to parents against saying negative things to their children, as this could make children bitter towards them, but should instead nurture and grow their talents which would be more beneficial.

    Also the Poem on page XVII of the book highlights the need for parents and teachers to work hand in hand,  in grooming children and having an interest in their education.

    The Poem on page XXXII advises against abusive words and harsh treatment which is the norm in Nigeria. Parents feel that this is the way to go in correcting children, but when a child is corrected in love, it makes a positive and lasting impact in the life of that child. Sitting a child down and talking to him/her is better than having that child angry and which might eventually lead to him/ her developing hatred for you.

    It is evident that the decay in morals and ethics starts from the home, where an individual gets his/her first interaction and communication with people. It is from the home that children are taught right from wrong, depending on the setting and foundation of that home.

    In this wise, Fetch the Future calls for all hands to be on deck in the restructuring of the Nigerian society that is pitiable and riddled with vices and crime committed mostly by the youth.

    Government should also take action in and play its part in reforming juvenile delinquents, and organise programmes/clubs aimed at giving children ‘big brothers and big sisters’ who will be part of their day to day lives in a mentoring way.

    The author’s attempt in addressing an issue as worrisome as this is commendable and encouraging for at least focusing on the children who are the future leaders. it is believed that the author consideration for children is worth the while but there is need for all children from all social strata should be considered.

  • Rotary settles bills of four patients

    Rotary settles bills of four patients

    RELIEF came the way of four nursing mothers who were indebted to a hospital in Festac Town, Lagos, when Rotary Club of Festac Town, paid their medical bills. The mothers were detained by the hospital for their inability to pay after deliveries at the Maternal and Child Centre, Festac Town.

    The  women were spotted by the Rotarians during a tour of the wards.  Many of them sat helplessly, having being detained for two weeks or more after delivery, a gesture which costed the club N120,000.

    The club also presented items for the centre. Items such as 50 bedsheets, 50 mosquito nets and 7 baby cribs were among other things. The women accepted the gestures with joy and wild jubilations in their wards. It came as a surprise to many of them. Others just wondered in bewilderment.

    The Maternal and Child centre  monthly delivers an average of 110 babies, said the Chief Matron, Mrs .Gbemisola Moradeyo, who led in the tour.

    President of the Rotary Club of Festac, Gabriel Onyema, said the club’s mission is to aleviate the problems and suffering of the people. He gave the cost of the donated items to be 985 thousand naira. This, he said was made possible by its individual members donation, together with well meaning people and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), which provided them with 2000 nets which will be distributed to women and children.

    He wondered why residents dont patronise the outfit, which he descibed as one with state of the art facilities. The president also noted that the Rotary is partnering with government to make life better for the people.

    “The scenery here is a happy one with lots of decorum. People are ignorant of the facilities I see , so I wonder why they wouldnt come for their deliveries here.”

    The high point of the visit was the presentation of a three minutes old baby, who the club members showered with gifts, money and prayers.

    Medical Director of the centre, Dr Ademuyiwa Eniayewun, said the gesture is a welcome development and called on others to emulate the club in its humanitarian works.

    The visit, the MD noted, is not only about the material and financial benefits, but goes a long way in giving the patients psychological and moral support.

    He boasted of the centre having the best facilities for pregnant and sick children, which will go a long way in reducing maternity and child mortality.

  • Goodluck charm

    Goodluck charm

    The last time Moseyn Ekiw saw his mother she showed no sign of ailment. That was just a week ago. At 80, she could still break bones with her teeth.

    Now, he is on his way to the Garden City, the capital of Waters State to see Mama. He received a call early that day that she wanted to see him urgently. His heart was heavy. She is the only parent he has known for a long time. Though his father is alive, he considers him dead. The man is a good example of irresponsibility. He has 20 children from five women and did nothing to raise them. His own case was the most pathetic because he even denied his pregnancy. It took all kinds of persuasion for him to accept being his father five years after his birth. His emergence as a council chairman after the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) one-year mandatory service worsened their relationship. Every day his father would call him requesting for money and other material things. By the time he became the Controller of Staff to Governor Timiro Ihceama of Waters State, he was no longer on talking terms with the old man.

    Soon, he drives into his house in the GRA. Mama is in the sitting room eating apple. Smile plays on his face.

    “Thank God nothing is wrong with her,” he says quietly and moves closer to exchange pleasantries with her.

    “Welcome my son,” the old woman says.

    A minute of silence ensues before Mama takes the conversation to a level he never imagined.

    “The Dame was here,” she says.

    “Which Dame?”

    “The most popular Dame in this country, the one whose husband you work for, the one who asked you to vie for governor of Waters State.”

    “Okay, go on Mama,” he says.

    “Her mission here is simple. She wants me to convince you to stop preparing for the governorship race. According to her, the mood in the state does not favour someone from the same place as the governor to replace him. She says it is the time of the  Riverside People.”

    At that moment, his eyes feast on the Dame’s picture on the wall. It is one of those her pictures taken by an ace female photographer which gave her beauty she can never have. His eyeballs become heavy with tears.

    “I have been used and dumped,” he tells Mama.

    “When she first asked me to go and be causing trouble for the governor all in the name of becoming the next governor, I pointed out to her that the mood in the state is that the People on the land have had enough. That by the time this governor finishes his tenure, they would have done 16 years. I told her the pendulum favours the People on Water but she told me to forget that. She said all I need to become governor is the Goodluck Charm with her husband and that she would get it for me. Now, two months to the emergence of flag-bearers she is sending my mother to me that I should drop out of the race. I knew they had no good plan for me when they refused to make me a senior minister despite all I have done to help them break the governor’s stranglehold on the state. They even made a man I convinced to dump the governor a senior minister. Mama, I have been humiliated by this woman and her husband. If only I had stayed true to the governor.”

    Tears cascade down his face.

    “Don’t cry my son,” Mama says.

    “At some point when I saw that she was going back on the content of a statement she issued saying I was in charge of the Umbrella Peoples Party (UPP) in Water State, I got my loyalists in the parliament to issue a statement saying without me the party would lose the governorship of the state. Mama, I don suffer for these people. Where I go hide my face?”

    His phone rings. The caller is the UPP chairman in Water State.

    “Good day oga,” the chairman greets the junior minister.

    “Good day,” he manages to sound alright.

    “I just got a letter from the Dame saying the time had come for us to face reality. She said we must choose our candidate among the People on the Water if we hope to make any headway in this election,” the chairman says.

    “This woman has finished me. She has finished me. She also came to see my mother to deliver a similar message,” he says.

    “That is serious. What do we do now?”

    “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

    The conversation ends and he briefs his mother about why the chairman called. His phone rings presently. On the line is his Media Aide.

    “Good afternoon sir.”

    He replies the greeting.

    “Sir, there is a report in Evening Monitor and Evening Enquirer quoting a letter from the Dame to the chairman on the need for the UPP candidate to emerge from the Riverside. Online papers are quoting it too.”

    “I will talk to you later,” he cuts off the call.

    His phone rings immediately. The second phone begins to ring too. The calls are from men who are looking forward to taking active part in his government. He refuses to pick any of the calls.

    He decides to go get a copy of the Evening Monitor from the news-stand a few blocks away and right there on the front page is his picture with the banner headline : “UPP dumps Ekiw”. A bromide of the Dame’s letter is also on the front page to authenticate their report.

    There is also an interview with an activist from the Riverside.

    These words catch his attention: “ The Riverside people in Waters State have every reason to expect to have one of their own leading the state,based on history, fairness and balance. The People on Water are the largest ethnic group in the state with about 10 Local Government Areas and substantial populations in 2 others of 23 Local Government Areas. The other two have less than 5 each. The People on Water are 39.7 per cent of the population of the state. In 1999, Ilido emerged on popular Riverside support. Again in 2007 and 2011,the Riverside people gave the incumbent their mandate.”

    He goes back to the house to show his mother the paper. As Mama goes through the story, he remembers he once told a group of editors in Lagos that he could never govern the Water State in 2015.

    “I am from the same place as the governor,” he remembers telling the in his suite in a highbrow hotel on the Island.

    “Never say never in politics,” he remembers one of the editors saying.

    “I will be creating problems for myself if I start thinking about succeeding my kinsman,” he remembers saying to close the conversation.

    Now, he has created problems for himself. He cannot go back to the governor. The trust is broken and he will feel sad if he remains in the cabinet.

    “Mama, I need to take a break from this madness.”

    “How do you mean?” asks the old woman.

    “UNICEF once offered me a job in Paris, which I turned down because of my political engagements. I saw the head of the body in Geneva a month ago and he said they would still be glad to have me. I laughed then because I thought I would never need it. Now, I think I will resign my appointment as minister, move to Paris and start a new life.”

    He hugs his mother and they both cry. An era has ended. A new one is beginning.

  • Ebola: SLFA donates $50,000 to UNICEF

    Ebola: SLFA donates $50,000 to UNICEF

    The Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) has donated $50,000 to UNICEF as part of its contribution in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
    The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma handed over the cheque to UNICEF Representative, Roeland Monasch at State House on Wednesday in the presence of Miatta Kargbo, Minister of Health & Sanitation, and Isha Johansen, president of SLFA.
    The first case of Ebola was reported in Sierra Leone in May this year in Kailahun District. Since then the disease has been spreading in the country with almost every district now affected. As at last Tuesday, 214 people have been confirmed dead out of a total of 591. 161 have survived the disease and were discharged from treatment facilities.

    “SLFA is happy to be part of the fight against the Ebola disease and with our collective collaboration with UNICEF, we will kick out Ebola!” said Isha Johansen, SLFA President.

    Misconceptions, myths and mistrusts have been fuelling the spread of the disease in several communities especially in Kenema and Kailahun Districts. Widespread denials are posing significant challenges in educating communities, especially those affected by the disease.

    “The contribution of SLFA will contribute to fighting the spread of the disease and changing attitudes and behavior”, said Roeland Monasch, UNICEF Representative in Sierra Leone. “UNICEF is spearheading Social Mobilization campaigns in communities across the country so that they are reached with the right information and education on Ebola and with support like this, we are hopeful that positive attitude and behavior will be enhanced”.

    The donation will be used for strengthening UNICEF work on Social Mobilization. In order to enhance positive behavior and attitude changes towards the disease and address stigma and discrimination, UNICEF is intensifying Social Mobilization campaigns in all thirteen districts through community engagement and mobilization via street-to-street announcements, house-to-house mobilization, and awareness-raising using vehicles and motorcycles equipped with public address systems.

    UNICEF is member and supports activities in five of the Pillars Groups that have been set up under the Ebola Operations Center & National Ebola Taskforce: Coordination; Social Mobilization, Surveillance and Laboratory, Logistics, and Child Protection/Social Protection pillar.

  • Access Bank, group raise N100m for UNICEF

    Access Bank, group raise N100m for UNICEF

    Access Bank Group and Fifth Chukker have raised N100million to support United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) through the Access Bank Charity Shield polo matches in Nigeria

    The sponsorship provides a platform for supporting orphaned and vulnerable children in Nigeria through its yearly donation in association with Fifth Chukker & UNICEF.

    Three years ago this platform was extended to the United Kingdom (UK) and this year, for  the third year running, Access Bank UK, Access Private Bank, Unicef and Fifth Chukker hosted the ‘Access Bank Day’ at  Ham Polo Club.

    Access Bank Plc Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, said the aim of the event at Ham Polo Club was to raise further awareness of the issues and support required.

    “Our support for the Fifth Chukker UNICEF initiative comes from the fact that we are conscious of our role as a change agent in Nigeria that can help institute socio- economic development through responsible business practice and environmental considerations. We are part of the community and as such should support its well-being.”

    The Access Bank UK’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Jamie Simmonds said: “We believe we have succeeded in the current financial climate where others have failed through our passion for customers built on relationship and not a transactional approach.

    “We offer services that include wealth and asset management, business banking, trade finance and personal banking.  This achievement owes a great deal to the strong partnership that we have with our parent company, as evidenced by our joint support of the Access Bank Day at Ham Polo Club.

    “Building long term and mutually beneficial relationships with our customers has been key to our development and is an approach we will continue with the aim of creating the most profitable African bank in the UK, and greatly expanding our contribution to Group performance.”

  • Infant mortality

    Infant mortality

    Despite the grim and glaring reality of human mortality, the latest figures on newborn deaths released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are alarmingly revealing and signify a call for urgent action to arrest the death rate. Findings of a survey of 51 countries with the highest burden of newborn deaths showed that as many as nearly three million newborn babies die worldwide every year. India tops the list in South Asia and globally with 779,000 newborn deaths per year, while Nigeria leads in sub-Saharan Africa with 267,000, which is certainly a thought-provoking and unwelcome record for the country.

    According to UNICEF, newborn deaths account for 44 percent of total mortality among children under five, and represent a larger percentage of under-five deaths than they did in 1990, which suggests a disturbing deterioration in the quality of care infants receive in various countries these days, particularly given the organisation’s detail that 2.9 million babies die within their first 28 days. Further information that an additional 2.6 million babies are stillborn and 1.2 million die because their hearts stop during labour is little comfort and does not redeem the sad situation of such a heavy loss of infant lives in today’s world, with all the advantages of highly developed health equipment, advanced scientific know-how and improved child health care knowledge.

    The grave picture is especially striking against the background of clear identification of the problem, which the organisation expressed in informed terms, saying, “The first 24 hours after birth are the most dangerous for both child and mother – almost half of maternal and newborn deaths occur then.”  Instructively, UNICEF’s head of global health programmes, Dr. Mickey Chopra, said, “We have seen tremendous progress in saving children under five, but where the world has stumbled is with the very youngest, most vulnerable children.” He added, “This group of children needs attention and resources. Focusing on the crucial period between labour and the first hours of life can exponentially increase the chances of survival for both mother and child.”

    Perhaps it is pertinent to point out that, related to the UNICEF release, Nigeria is ranked 2nd among the top 10 countries with the most first-day of life deaths, according to a 2013 State of the World’s Mothers Report. At least 89,700 (nine per cent) babies die on their first day of life every year in Nigeria, said the report which compared first-day death rates for 186 countries. In addition, Nigeria was 169th on the Mothers’ Index out of the 186 countries assessed in critical areas such as mother’s health, education and economic status, as well as key child indicators of health and nutrition.

    Of course, situation recognition will not suffice, and the UNICEF statement expectedly recommended solutions that hopefully will be practicalised in the interest of humanity in general. Notably, the identified most effective interventions in saving newborns include breastfeeding; newborn resuscitation; ‘kangaroo care’ for premature babies – that is, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother; and preventing and treating infections.

    However, perhaps more critically, the organisation called for more funding and adequate equipment, which cannot reasonably be divorced from politics and governance; consequently, the political will and performance is essential. It is significant to note that UNICEF argued that if the quality of care received by the richest were to become universal, this would result in a phenomenal reduction in newborn deaths, specifically, 600,000 fewer deaths per year.

    It may be wishful thinking on the part of the organisation to imagine that the day would come when access to health care would be a function of egalitarianism. However, the underlying lesson of its argument should not be trivialised, which is that a more socially responsive health care system is a desideratum in many countries.

    Such advocacy cannot be truer for Nigeria in particular, especially considering the fact its oil wealth should ordinarily ensure a health care system that is vastly superior to the dysfunctional one which many Nigerians have sadly got used to, even if regretfully. It is a fact that the country’s public health sector continues to attract widespread criticism for lamentably poor services due largely to funding issues. Indeed, it is noteworthy that the country’s proposed N262.74 billion budget for the health sector in 2014 represented a 6.7 percent decrease compared with the 2013 allocation which was N273 billion.

    Not surprisingly, experts rubbished the proposal for this year mainly on account of the figure earmarked for recurrent expenditure, which was about 80 percent of the financial plan and meant that there would be little or no funds left for infrastructural development, expansion and upgrade of medical facilities, research and development, and human capital development, the very essentials needed to improve the infant survival rate.

    Regrettably, a major implication of the UNICEF release is the high possibility that the Millennium Development Goal of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015 may prove to be a pipe dream. Perhaps even more unfortunate is the likelihood that Nigeria will count among the failures.

  • FG, UNICEF to conduct survey on violence against children

    The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has put in place mechanisms to conduct a national survey on violence against children.

    The survey is to be carried out with the support of the UNICEF, Centre for Disease Control and the National Population Commission, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said.

    She made statement at a Roundtable on Emerging Issues of Girl Child Protection in West Africa, organised by Ford Foundation in Abuja on Wednesday.

    According to the minister, the outcome of the survey would provide Nigeria accurate and research-based data that would ensure informed and evidence-based programming for effective child protection.

    Maina recalled that the Federal Government had also inaugurated a National Joint Task Force for the prevention of child sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children.

    She said the establishment of the task force was informed by the emerging social problems affecting the social and security protection of the girl-child in Nigeria.

    Maina said that the survey was expected to provide data on the prevalence of violence in terms of gender, geography and nature of cases.

    The Secretary General, West African Civil Society Forum, Mr. Abdoulaye Diallo, stressed the need for child rights to be given top priority at both regional and national levels.

    “Child rights should be handled as a developmental priority rather than only as human rights or religious issues.

    “It is regrettable that child rights issues are not a priority under the ECOWAS legislation,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Diallo as saying at the forum.