Rate of babies dying before one month high in Oyo ― Govt

Oyo State government has raised concern on the high number of babies that die before their first month of life, saying it is unacceptable.

Health Commissioner, Dr Azeez Adeduntan while speaking at the kick off the Maternal, Newborn & Child Health week (MNCHW) in Ibadan, said Oyo State records 42 deaths per 1000 live births compared to the national figure put at 39 deaths per 1000 live births.

The MNCHW is a regular event organised to deliver an integrated package of preventive services known to be highly cost-effective for improving maternal and child health and survival in Nigeria.

Adeduntan linked the state’s high neonatal deaths to low skill birth attendants, umbilical cord abscesses and neonatal tetanus, adding that already the state had commenced training of more hands to ensure increased delivery by trained birth attendants.

The health commissioner said the state was also working in collaboration with many tertiary hospitals in the state to ensure a reduction in the deaths of babies in their first months of life.

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While urging the public to report cases of health quackery, he said the MNCHW would afford mothers opportunity to immunise their children against many childhood killer diseases; children receive vitamin A supplement and deworming tablets as well as Long-lasting insecticidal treated nets.

He assured of the safety of the vaccine just as he said all the services would be available for mothers’ at all health care facilities in the state.

Earlier, Ibadan East local government chairman, Prince Gbade Lana urged mothers to ensure they take advantage of these free health services to improve the health of their babies.