Nigeria Targets 800 Daily Newborn Deaths With New Plan

Nigeria loses more than 800 newborns every single day, but the country's pediatricians say most of these deaths could be prevented with the right tools and funding.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has agreed to champion the cause of Nigeria's children after meeting with the Paediatric Association of Nigeria at his Abeokuta residence. The association's president, Dr. Ekanem Ekure, asked him to use his influential voice to advocate for the country's youngest citizens.

"More than half of Nigerians are children and adolescents, and they are a great asset to the country," Ekure told Obasanjo. She explained that these young lives are battling preventable diseases, malnutrition, and violations of their basic rights.

Obasanjo accepted the role enthusiastically, noting that even though his own children are adults, his grandchildren are now having children. "I will never stop having children," he said, emphasizing the continuous cycle of generations that makes child welfare永恒relevant to everyone.

The pediatricians are gathering in Abeokuta from January 21 to 23 for their 57th Annual General Meeting. More than 800 medical professionals, policymakers, and technology experts will develop solutions to Nigeria's child health crisis.

The statistics paint a concerning picture. Neonatal mortality rates haven't declined but have actually increased in recent years. Children who survive their first month still face deadly threats from malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea, all diseases with known treatments.

Malnutrition makes everything worse. About 50 percent of child deaths in Nigeria are worsened by poor nutrition, which makes children far more vulnerable to infections that healthy kids could fight off.

Ekure pointed to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation as major obstacles. In her hospital, no medical student has seen a measles case on the wards for over 10 years because of strong vaccination rates. Yet measles outbreaks still happen in other parts of Nigeria where immunization has fallen.

The Ripple Effect

The pediatricians aren't just talking about problems. Their conference focuses on practical solutions through innovative funding and technology. They're bringing together people who can actually change things: doctors who treat patients daily, policymakers who control budgets, and tech innovators who can build tools to reach remote areas.

Nigeria remains off track for meeting global goals on child survival, which Ekure calls "a national emergency." But the combination of Obasanjo's advocacy platform, expert medical knowledge, and new technological approaches offers a real path forward.

"Vaccines save lives," Ekure reminded everyone. "They have saved millions of lives globally and continue to do so." The solutions already exist for most of the diseases killing Nigeria's children.

With committed leadership and smart innovation, those 800 daily losses could become Nigeria's next great turnaround story.