The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, said 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.
Aina said this on Monday in Abuja at the ongoing two-day engagement meeting on vaccination, maternal and child health with religious leaders from northern Nigeria organised by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development supported by NPHCDA.
The NPHCDA boss also said Nigeria had recorded a total of 70 cases of circulating variant poliovirus Type 2 from 46 local government areas across 14 northern states
“Every day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under five years old children and 145 women of childbearing age. Most of these deaths are occurring in northern Nigeria.
“Also, 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. This is an indication of continuous transmission of the virus due to low routine immunisation, and refusal of vaccines during polio campaigns.
“This must change. We must ensure that every woman has access to antenatal care, that every pregnancy is delivered by trained and skilled midwives, and that every child completes their routine immunisation according to the national schedule and gets vaccinated every time vaccination teams visit their homes. Together, we must work to create a system that ensures no mother or child is left behind”.
Aina urged the religious leaders to make a renewed commitment to the health of the people and communities.
“We must focus on breaking down barriers to care, ensuring equitable access to services, and building trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. Our collective efforts can create an environment where every Nigerian child is immunised, and every Nigerian mother receives the care she deserves”.
The NPHCDA boss thanked the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and His Eminence, Most Reverend Daniel Okoh “for always mobilising traditional and religious leaders to support immunisation and other Primary Health Care programmes”.
“I also want to thank the Sultan Foundation and other partners for your unwavering support and dedication to improving health outcomes in Nigeria”, he said.
In his goodwill message, the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Walter Mulombo, said partnership was a critical vehicle in achieving the broader goal of universal health coverage.
He said, “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”.
On his part, the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Saad Abubakar stressed the need for religious leaders to promote development, peace, and security.
According to him, health and security are essential to Nigeria’s development.
“The Sultan Foundation’s work exemplifies the power of collaboration. Established to promote sustainable development and social cohesion, the foundation has made significant strides in addressing health, education, and economic empowerment.
“By partnering with organisations like UNICEF, Bill Gates Foundation, and other stakeholders, the foundation demonstrates the potential for collective impact”, he said.
