Out of the 337,000 births recorded yearly in Kaduna state, 66,000 (20%) die before their 5th Birthday, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria – Partnership For Advocacy in Child and Family Health, PSN-PACHFAH announced yesterday in Kaduna.
PSN-PACFAH, which is an amalgam of 8 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs and allied Non Governmental Organisation, NGOs, said the current Kaduna state under-5 mortality rate was 185 deaths for 1000 births, all from preventable and treatable ailments.
But, the state government said it was aware of the challenge and was poised towards tackling it. The above revelation was made when the Nigerian Country Director of PSN-PCFAH, Mr. Remi Adeseun and his team paid an advocacy visit to the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency, KSPHCA, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe in her office.
He said: Figures from the most recent Nigerian Demographic Health Survey (NDHS 2013) show that Kaduna state annual live-birth is 337,000 , of this figure, 66,000 die before their fifth birthday.
“The 2013 NDHS also shows that for every 1000 live births, 185 die before their fith birthday. This means that Kaduna state current under-5 mortality rate per 1000 live-births is 185. “Most of the aforementioned deaths are from preventable and treatable diseases such as Malaria, Pneumonia and Diarrhoea.
The Survey shows that Diarrhoea and Pneumonia account for 13% and 16% respectably of the under-5 mortality rate in Kaduna state. “In the North West, Kaduna state has the second highest percentage of under-5 mortality rate from Pneumonia. Kaduna State has 16% Under-5 Diarrhoea mortality rate, a figure that is far higher than the National average of 9%. According to him, there was need to address the issue.
He then requested that: “the management of childhood pneumonia and Diarrhoea should be given high priority by the state government through the Ministry of Health. If half of the priority given to malaria is geared towards Pneumonia and Diarrhoea treatment, more innocent lives would be saved.”
In her response, the KSPHCA boss, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, said that the administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state was aware of the problem and had taken proactive measures towards tackling it. She said: “There were the challenges that made the present government to overhaul the former law establishing the KSPHCA into its current structure.
“All the departments in the Ministry of Health that are into immunisation and dispensation of drugs and allied services have now been brought under the roof of this agency for proper coordination. “I am sure you are aware of the partnership that the governor signed with the Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation on the eradication of some of these diseases. I want to inform you that the governor has authorised the release of 100% counter-part funds to this cooperation. And I want to assure you that within the time and resources available to us, we shall do our best to solve this malaise,”, she said.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/20-kaduna-children-die-5th-birthday-psn-pacfah-survey/
