By Monsurat Abisoye
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has urged immediate and coordinated efforts to address Nigeria’s high rate of newborn deaths, warning that the country is still far from meeting global neonatal survival targets.
He appealed in a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr Ahmed Mohammed at the 18th Annual General and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine held in Port Harcourt.
Pate disclosed that Nigeria’s neonatal mortality rate stands at about 41 deaths per 1,000 live births, significantly higher than the Sustainable Development Goal target of 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030. He described the conference theme, which focuses on closing gaps towards achieving newborn-related SDGs and ending preventable deaths, as timely and aligned with national health priorities.
While noting some progress, the minister said achieving the target would require sustained investment and stronger interventions in maternal and newborn healthcare. He stressed that many neonatal deaths are preventable through proven measures such as skilled birth attendance, neonatal resuscitation, kangaroo mother care for premature babies, early initiation of breastfeeding, infection prevention, and prompt referrals.
He added that the Federal Government is scaling up newborn healthcare through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative by improving maternal and newborn services, expanding kangaroo mother care and resuscitation programmes, upgrading special care baby units, supplying essential newborn commodities, and strengthening referral systems in partnership with states and development partners.
Pate further noted that progress in reducing neonatal deaths has lagged behind improvements in maternal and child health, describing newborn survival as one of Nigeria’s most urgent health challenges. He emphasised that saving newborn lives is both a humanitarian necessity and an investment in the country’s future human capital and development, urging stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and develop practical solutions.
At the same event, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, described newborn survival as a key priority for the state government. He said tackling the issue requires coordinated action, evidence-based interventions, stronger health systems, and continuous training for healthcare workers.
He highlighted Rivers State’s efforts to expand Universal Health Coverage, improve access to quality newborn care, implement the Nigeria Every Newborn Action Plan, strengthen reviews of stillbirths and neonatal deaths, and enhance healthcare workers’ capacity through training in neonatal resuscitation and respiratory support. According to him, these measures, supported by investment and accountability systems, aim to ensure that every newborn survives and thrives.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine, Professor Reteola Fadjulu, raised concern over the country’s high newborn mortality rate, stating that about 700 babies die daily in Nigeria. She stressed the importance of antenatal care in detecting and managing pregnancy complications early to reduce risks for both mothers and babies.
Fadjulu also called for increased government funding for newborn healthcare, insisting that every newborn across Nigeria should have access to free healthcare. She acknowledged ongoing Federal Government efforts to integrate newborn services into maternal healthcare programmes, noting that pilot schemes are already running in Lagos and Kano States.
She added that sustained advocacy by neonatal health professionals has helped elevate newborn survival on the national agenda and expressed optimism that expanded government commitment would further reduce preventable deaths.
