The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina, has revealed that approximately 2,300 children under the age of five and 145 women of reproductive age die each day in Nigeria, with most of these fatalities concentrated in the northern regions.
The Punch reported that Aina said this at a two-day engagement meeting in Abuja, organized by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development with NPHCDA support, Aina emphasized the critical need to address preventable deaths among women and children in the country.
Aina lamented that “too many women still die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, and too many children fail to reach their fifth birthday due to preventable diseases.”
He revealed that Nigeria continues to witness alarming rates of these tragedies, particularly in the northern regions.
He cited that every day, around 2,300 children under five and 145 women of childbearing age die, with the majority of these deaths occurring in northern Nigeria.
The NPHCDA chief also expressed concern over the spread of the circulating variant poliovirus Type 2 (cVPV2) in the region.
“Nigeria is currently witnessing intense transmission of the circulating variant poliovirus Type 2, with a total of 70 cVPV2 from 46 LGAs across 14 Northern states,” he said. Aina attributed this to low routine immunisation rates and widespread vaccine refusal during polio campaigns, warning that it signals continuous transmission of the virus.
“This must change,” Aina urged, calling for a concerted effort to ensure that every woman receives adequate antenatal care, that trained and skilled midwives handle every childbirth, and that every child completes their routine immunisation as per the national schedule.
“Together, we must work to create a system that ensures no mother or child is left behind,” he added, appealing to religious leaders to reinforce their commitment to public health.
Aina extended his gratitude to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and His Eminence, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh, for their unwavering support in mobilising traditional and religious leaders to back immunisation and primary healthcare initiatives.
He also commended the Sultan Foundation and other partners for their dedication to enhancing health outcomes in Nigeria.
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, reinforced the importance of partnerships in achieving universal health coverage.
“This partnership is also aligned to the primary healthcare approach, the bedrock of Nigeria’s Health Policy, and a whole-of-society approach to health that aims to ensure the highest possible level of health and well-being, equitably distributed across all communities,” Mulombo stated.
The Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Saad Abubakar, underscored the role of religious leaders in fostering development, peace, and security.
He noted that health and security are fundamental to the nation’s progress. Highlighting the work of the Sultan Foundation, he said it exemplifies the power of collaboration by advancing health, education, and economic empowerment through partnerships with organizations such as UNICEF and the Bill Gates Foundation.
“The foundation demonstrates the potential for collective impact,” he concluded.
The engagement meeting emphasized the critical role of religious and community leaders in breaking down barriers to healthcare, ensuring equitable access to services, and building trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
The discussions aim to foster an environment where every Nigerian child is immunised, and every Nigerian mother receives the care she needs, ultimately driving progress toward a healthier and more secure nation.
