Bayelsa launches program to prevent death of children under five years

To put an end to the alarming and worrisome rate of death of children under-five-years from preventable causes, the Bayelsa State Government has launched Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP).

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Pabara Newton Igwele, made this known yesterday in Yenagoa, the state capital, during the ministry’s launch of the ENAP in collaboration with the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Igwele, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Inodu Apoku, said about 3,500 newborns died in their first month of life in the state from preventable causes, noting that it was one of the highest in the Southsouth region.

He said: “In 2008 for instance, Bayelsa State had 64,000 babies delivered, out of which 3,500 died in their first month of life. At the time, Bayelsa had the highest under-5 mortality rate in the Southsouth of the country with 95 deaths per 1,000 live births.

“At present, when compared with the 2011 records, there has been a marked improvement in the number of under-5 mortality. Despite this, the decline in newborn mortality rate has been considerably low as newborn deaths still account for 31 per cent of the total child mortality.

“The percentage of deaths is becoming very embarrassing and in the Southsouth, Bayelsa State is the worst and they die from preventable causes.”

He said the call to action which provides the framework for the development of the Nigerian Every Newborn Action Plan (NiENAP) provided the platform for situational analysis into newborn health in the state.

Igwele said the launch of ENAP would be the action plan that would mitigate the causes that are responsible for the deaths of children when they are born.

He called on all critical stakeholders, partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, among others, to work with the government at all levels in implementing the plan.

“All hands must be on deck to ensure that newborns in the state not only breath at birth, but survive and thrive to reach their full potential in life,” the commissioner appealed.

In her contribution, the wife of Bayelsa State Governor, Dr Gloria Diri, said the well-being of the mother and child is key in realising safe care before, during pregnancy and after the delivery hence all necessary means be employed to provide the enabling environment for the rendering of health care services.

She said the neonatal period (first 28 days of life) is the crucial period for child survival, noting that the period carries the highest risk of deaths per day than any other period during childhood.

She equally said that the first month of life is a fundamental period for lifelong health and development, averring that healthy babies grow into healthy adults who could thrive and contribute to their communities and society.

Mrs Diri stated: “Labour, birth and immediate postnatal period are the most critical for newborn and maternal survival.

“And 75 per cent of newborn deaths can be prevented with known, effective health measures provided at birth and during the first week of life. That is why as a state, we are very happy to have a programme like this where the quality of our neonates is prioritised.”

Also, health specialist, UNICEF, Rivers Field Office, Port Harcourt, Dr Eghe Abe, noted that while under-five deaths had continued to reduce, the rate of decrease of newborn deaths had somewhat plateaued and remained the same.

He said if the state and the country wished to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the need to do things differently to reduce the newborn death rate.

UNICEF wholeheartedly supported the development of the plan, stressing that if the plan was fully implemented, every newborn would not only survive but would thrive and develop to its full potential.

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