The Lagos state government has joined forces with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to launch the State’s Every Newborn Action Plan, a vital initiative aimed at addressing the alarming rate of newborn deaths within the region.
Current statistics reveal that Nigeria records the birth of over seven million babies annually, but a staggering 240,000 of them do not survive beyond their first month, with an additional 94,000 newborns not even making it through childbirth.
Lagos state, situated in the southwestern region of Nigeria, holds the unenviable position of having the second-highest neonatal mortality rate in the area, with 35 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births.
Speaking during the launch and dissemination of the Lagos State Every Newborn Action Plan Document in Lagos, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos state Ministry of Health, revealed that this comprehensive action plan outlines the state government’s strategy to expedite progress in reducing preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths.
Dr. Ogboye emphasized that the plan not only seeks to accelerate progress but also to expand the implementation of evidence-based and cost-effective interventions. These interventions will serve as a concerted effort to translate global, national, and state commitments into meaningful improvements for newborns while aligning with the global timeline for achieving these goals by 2030.
Celine Lafoucriere, the Chief of Field Office for UNICEF Lagos, expressed deep concern over Lagos state’s grim neonatal mortality rate, which stands at 35 deaths per 1000 live births. She stressed that the heartbreaking aspect of this situation is that the vast majority of these deaths are entirely preventable.
The Lagos state government and UNICEF’s partnership is poised to make significant strides in reducing newborn mortality rates and improving the prospects for the youngest members of society.
