Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), has disclosed that Nigeria sees around 2,300 children under five and 145 women of reproductive age die daily, with a significant number of these fatalities occurring in the northern regions.
Speaking at a two-day engagement meeting in Abuja organized by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, Aina highlighted the urgent need to tackle preventable deaths among women and children in the country. He lamented the alarming statistics, stating, “Too many women still die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, and far too many children do not survive to their fifth birthday due to preventable diseases.”
Aina emphasized that Nigeria continues to face these tragic loss rates, particularly in northern states, where the majority of these deaths occur. He also raised concerns about the spread of circulating variant poliovirus Type 2 (cVPV2) in the region. “Nigeria is currently experiencing intense transmission of cVPV2, with 70 cases reported from 46 local government areas across 14 northern states,” he noted, attributing this to low immunization rates and vaccine hesitancy during polio campaigns.
“This situation must change,” Aina urged, calling for a united effort to ensure every woman receives proper antenatal care and that trained midwives manage all childbirths. He stressed the importance of ensuring that all children complete their routine immunizations according to the national schedule. “Together, we must create a system where no mother or child is left behind,” he added, appealing to religious leaders to reinforce their commitment to public health.
Dr. Aina expressed gratitude to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and Most Reverend Daniel Okoh for their ongoing support in mobilizing traditional and religious leaders for immunization and primary healthcare initiatives. He also acknowledged the Sultan Foundation and its partners for their commitment to improving health outcomes in Nigeria.
WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, underscored the significance of partnerships in achieving universal health coverage. “This partnership aligns with the primary healthcare approach, which is foundational to Nigeria’s health policy, ensuring equitable access to health services across all communities,” Mulombo stated.
Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Saad Abubakar, emphasized the role of religious leaders in promoting development, peace, and security. He noted that health and security are vital for national progress and highlighted the work of the Sultan Foundation in advancing health, education, and economic empowerment through collaborations with organizations like UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The engagement meeting highlighted the essential role of community and religious leaders in overcoming barriers to healthcare, ensuring equitable access to services, and fostering trust between healthcare providers and the communities they serve. The discussions aimed to create an environment where every Nigerian child is immunized and every mother receives the necessary care, ultimately driving progress toward a healthier and more secure nation.
