Just as nearly three million newborn babies die globally every year, the highest number of newborn deaths per year in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, is in Nigeria with 267,000.
This figure was revealed by UNICEF in a statement released on Tuesday.
As presented in its statistics, these deaths occur more among the poorest and most disadvantaged populations. In South Asia and globally, India tops with 779,000 newborn deaths per year; in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria leads with 267,000 and Pakistan has 202,400.
The statement followed the series of papers released by The Lancet at UNICEF headquarters, which shows that the majority of the nearly three million children “who die before they are one month old can be saved if they received quality care around the time of birth – with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and under-served.”
According to the UNICEF, newborn deaths take 44 per cent of total mortality among children under five, and represent a larger percentage of under-five deaths now than they did in 1990.
“We have seen tremendous progress in saving children under five, but where the world has stumbled is with the very youngest, most vulnerable children,” said Dr. Mickey Chopra, head of UNICEF’s global health programmes.
“This group of children needs attention and resources. Focusing on the crucial period between labour and the first hours of life can exponentially increase the chances of survival for both mother and child.”
As stated by the UNICEF, 2.9 million babies die each year within their first 28 days. The organisation also stated that an additional 2.6 million babies are still-born, and 1.2 million of those deaths occur when the baby’s heart stops during labour.
“The first 24 hours after birth are the most dangerous for both child and mother — almost half of maternal and newborn deaths occur then. The Lancet’s Every Newborn series identifies the most effective interventions in saving newborns, including breastfeeding; newborn resuscitation; ‘kangaroo care’ for premature babies — that is, prolonged skin-to-skin contact with the mother; and preventing and treating infections. More funding and adequate equipment are also vital the statement said.
The UNICEF, in its survey of 51 countries with the highest burden of newborn deaths, found that if the quality of care received by the richest were to become universal, there would be 600,000 fewer deaths per year. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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What kind of information is this? They give ridiculous statistics, yet they cannot simply state the causes of these deaths. What do they mean by " the most vulnerable and under served"? We all know that the heart stops when someone dies, and so what, is that suppose to be a cause of death? They should tell us what these causes of deaths are jor.
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