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A new report by National Bureau of Statistics, (NBS), has
said that neonatal mortality constitutes more than half of under-five deaths
(50 per cent) in South Western States in Nigeria.
Neonatal is the probability of a child dying within 28 days
after birth.
But, the report which was made available to Daily
Independent by NBS with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund
(UNICEF), showed that neonatal mortality rate in Osun, Ekiti and Oyo states are
higher than the national average.
The report which is contained in the Multiple Indicators
Cluster Survey (MICS), revealed that in Nigeria, the probability of a child
dying within 28 days is 39 per cent, within one year is 31 per cent and within
five years is 50 per cent, meanwhile in South-West Nigeria, the probability of
a child dying within 28 days is 36 per cent, within one year is 16 per cent and
within five years is 15 percent.
The MICS also stated that child mortality, which is the
probability of a child dying between the first and the fifth birthday is higher
in Ondo and Osun states with 30/1,000 live births and 23/1,000 live births
respectively.
In Osun State for instance, the report stated that the
probability of a child dying within 28 days is 56 per cent, within one year is
22 percent and within five years is 23 percent.
In Ekiti state, the probability of a child dying within 28
days is 46 per cent, within one year is 23 percent and within five years is 17
per cent. In Oyo state, the probability of a child dying within 28 days is 42
per cent, within one year is 17 per cent and within five years is 14 per cent.
In Ondo state, the probability of a child dying within 28
days is 30 per cent, within one year is seven percent and within five years is
30 percent.
In Ogun state, the probability of a child dying within 28
days is 28 per cent, within one year is 20 percent and within five years is 18
percent while in Lagos state, the probability of a child dying within 28 days
is 29 per cent, within one year is 17 percent and within five years is five percent.
The 2018 Measles vaccination campaign for children between
age nine months and five years started in Lagos State from Thursday 15th and is
to end on Thursday 29th March,
2018.
According to the State Government and it is geared towards
saving the lives of children under the age of five.
Dr. Olufemi Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the Governor on
Primary Health Care told Daily Independent, that the state is prepared for the
campaign noting that 3,609,538 children are being targeted during the
vaccination campaign.
According to Onanuga, “The objective of the campaign is to
immunise at least 95 percent of children aged nine months to five years with
measles vaccine in all local government areas regardless of their previous
immunisation status.”
The Special Adviser revealed that over 4,526 house-to-house
mobilizers have been mandated to encourage eligible children that falls within
the operational target population to visit the immunisation posts for measles
vaccine and the other antigens adding that 4,526 fixed and temporary fixed
posts will be set up for the campaign.
While appealing to parent and caregiver to ensure that all
the children between nine months and five years are taken to the health posts
for the measles vaccination, Onanuga stated the vaccination service is free,
the vaccine is safe and effective, and is to be administered to the children
irrespective of their previous immunisation status.
