Over 19,000 children die anually due to Pneumonia, Diarrhea in Niger
…As govt sets up Committee to reduce mortality, morbidity
Disturbed by a recent survey that 19,000 children out of 195,000 die before their fifth (5th) birthday due to pneumonia and diarrhea, the Niger State Government has inaugurated a committee that will ensure the drastic reduction in the unfavourable Childhood (U-5) Morbidity and Mortality.
The report by the Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2013) also indicated that Niger State has the third highest burden of childhood pneum onia among the Seven North-Central States in Nigeria.
According to the Survey, nearly 6 million children under the age of five die every year globally mainly from preventable causes. Most of these deaths are caused by Pneumonia and Diarrhea, the major killers of young children.
While inaugurating the Niger State Action Committee on Childhood Killer Diseases (NSACCKD) via a Virtual meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Joseph Kolo over the weekend said the State Government is worried and concerned about the lives of children and would do its best to save their lives.
The Committee which has Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, Executive Director, State Primary Healthcare Care Development Agency (SPHCDA) as Chairman has Dr. Idris Mohammed Director, Public Health as Co-Chairman, Pharm Patrick Gimba, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) coordinator as Secretary, also had Dr. Aliyu Yabagi Shehu, Program Director CCRHS-PAS and 26 others as Members.
During the Virtual meeting, it was agreed that there is need to ensure drastic reduction in the unfavourable Childhood (U-5) Morbidity and Mortality from preventable Pneumonia and Diarrhoea in Niger State.
Speaking earlier, team Leader of Niger PAS Partners and Project Director, Centre for Communication and Reproductive Health Services (CCRHS), Dr. Aliyu Yabagi Shehu said, the team is ready to support the State Government in ensuring that budgeted allocations are timely released.
He however called for an increase availability of new drugs (Amoxicillin DT, Zn-Lo-ORS) across the PHC Centres (facilities) in Niger State.
According to Dr. Yabagi “with this committee in place, there will be drastic reduction in the unfavourable Childhood (U-5) Morbidity and Mortality from preventable Pneumonia and Diarrhoea in Niger State.
“There should be improved effective and Sustainable funding to CKD through Implementation of CIP & Policy on CKD in Niger State that will help reduce 19,000 under 5 deaths by 70% in the state by 2022”.
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