JUST IN: FCTA Announces One Million Annual Child Fatalities Before Fifth Birthday

JUST IN: FCTA Announces One Million Annual Child Fatalities Before Fifth Birthday

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has revealed that approximately one million Nigerian children perish annually before reaching their fifth birthday due to various illnesses……. CONTINUE READING

Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday to mark the commencement of the 2024 FCT Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week vaccination campaign.

Dr. Fasawe, represented by Dr. Babagana Adam, the Permanent Secretary of FCTA, emphasized the necessity of the vaccination exercise, which offers free services to children aged 0 to 59 months. This initiative aims to combat the high mortality rate among young children in the FCT.

Highlighting the prevalence of malnutrition among these children, Dr. Fasawe stressed the urgent need to protect Nigeria’s children from diseases. She cited statistics indicating that 21.2% suffer from stunting, 12.1% from underweight issues, and 3.0% from wasting, reflecting alarming rates of global acute malnutrition.

Dr. Fasawe underscored the importance of preventive measures to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, pointing out deficiencies in micronutrient nutrition and maternal healthcare indicators. Despite significant strides through previous MNCHW efforts, she emphasized the ongoing need for broader intervention coverage to improve child health outcomes.

The MNCHW, a biannual initiative of the Federal Government, aims to deliver comprehensive healthcare interventions at the grassroots level, focusing on maternal, newborn, and child health. Dr. Fasawe outlined the services to be provided during the week, including Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, routine immunization against preventable diseases, growth monitoring, nutrition screening, and family planning services.

She urged all stakeholders, including journalists and households across the FCT’s six area councils, to support and participate in the MNCHW to ensure its success in enhancing the health and wellbeing of mothers and children in the region.