Tragic Reality: Over 1 Million Nigerian Children Die Before Fifth Birthday Due to Illness

In a shocking revelation, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disclosed that over one million Nigerian children die annually before their fifth birthday due to various sicknesses. The alarming rate of child mortality has prompted the FCTA to initiate the 2024 FCT Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) vaccination exercise, scheduled to take place from July 20 to July 24.

The vaccination exercise, which is free for children from age 0 to 59 months, aims to reduce the high rate of malnutrition and mortality among children in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). According to the FCTA, the rate of Stunting is 21.2 per cent, Underweight 12.1 per cent, and Wasting 3.0 per cent among children in the FCT.

Malnutrition is a significant concern in the FCT, with micronutrient malnutrition being prevalent. The Vitamin A coverage for the FCT is 40.6 per cent, far below the minimum 90 per cent target. Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate in the FCT is 52 per cent, while the maternal mortality ratio is 512 deaths per 100,000 live births in Nigeria and 408 deaths per 100,000 live births in the FCT.

The MNCHW vaccination exercise will provide various services, including Vitamin A Supplementation, Deworming, and routine immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases. The exercise will also focus on awareness and service delivery on maternal, newborn, and child health care, as well as providing growth monitoring and promotion, food demonstration, nutrition screening, birth registration, family planning services, and hand washing demonstration.

The FCTA has called on all stakeholders, including journalists, to promote the MNCHW and has urged households across the FCT’s six area councils to cooperate with medical officers who will be conducting the exercise.

This tragic reality highlights the need for urgent action to address the root causes of child mortality and malnutrition in Nigeria. With the MNCHW vaccination exercise, the FCTA is taking a crucial step towards improving the health and well-being of children in the FCT.