Chioma Umeha
The United Nations Children Education Fund
(UNICEF) has expressed worry over the alarming low level of birth registration
in Nigeria as the country has the largest population of unregistered children
among eight of the 10 countries with the lowest levels of birth registration
are in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mrs. Sharon Oladiji, Child Protection Specialist,
UNICEF, said this in Kano on Wednesday at a two-day Media Dialogue on Birth
Registration.
Oladiji also said that only eight per cent per
cent of under-five children are registered in Nigeria, http:br.rapidsmsnigeria.org.
She noted that birth registration is a key issue
evidenced by a birth certificate and requires urgent attention.
The Child Protection Specialist said, “A key issue
that requires urgent attention is birth registration, evidenced by a birth
certificate:
“Currently only eight per cent of under-5 children
are registered in Nigeria: http:br.rapidsmsnigeria.org.
“Only 44 per cent of Africa’s births are
registered, leaving an estimated 85 million children under five unregistered.
“Eight of the 10 countries with the lowest levels
of birth registration are in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria having the
largest population of unregistered children.”
Noting that about 62 per cent of children were
given birth to outside Nigeria’s health facilities, Oladiji stressed that
advocacy at all state levels, if strengthened would support birth registration.
She said the importance of birth registration to
the national development could not be over-emphasised as this would allow the
government to take right policies for the betterment of all citizens.
She also said only 40 per cent of women access
healthcare facilities which were a major problem in birth registration saying
when women don’t visit the healthcare, how do you expect them to register.
“In 2016, registered birth under aged one is
2,519,071 which translated to 51 per cent of the estimated birth in the
country.
“But in 2017, it is reduced to 7,066 birth
registration out of the 4,758,812 expected births under the age of one.
“It is therefore worrisome in 2018 where the
performance of birth registration is only 32 per cent. This also shows that all
the states have low registration and this can be traceable to some limitations
which must be urgently addressed.”
She noted that the 2013 National Demographic
Health Survey (DHS) revealed the low level of registration which could not be
traceable to only ignorance of rural community dwellers while calling on civil
society organisations and the media to rise up to the challenge.
Earlier, the Minister of Information, Culture and
Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, there was need for widespread media campaign
to enlighten and create awareness in homes, communities and at all levels of
government on birth registration.
Mohammed, who was represented by Mr. Olumide
Osanyipeju, Head of Advocacy, Child Right Information Bureau in the ministry,
said the low awareness of birth registration had resulted to lack of planning.
“The low level, or apparently lack of awareness on
the importance of birth registration has resulted in lack of planning for
children and improper capturing of this important segment of our society in
developmental and social processes that affect them.
“Workable solutions to this general weak knowledge
can begin right from the homes and communities and through a wide spread media
campaign aimed at creating awareness at all levels of governance and civil
society.”
He added that the media campaign would drive
demand for birth registration services and promote increased knowledge on the
importance of birth registration.
UNICEF reports that 18 states and the FCT with
under-five population projections totaling over 20 million are being considered
for integrated birth registration uptake approach.
They include: Adamawa, Kebbi, Niger, Borno,
Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Sokoto and the FCT.
Others are Ekiti, Enugu, Ondo, Rivers, Oyo, Ogun,
Benue and Lagos state.
