Why state governments must pass Child’s Right Act —PAN

PRESIDENT, Peadiatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr Augustine Omoigberale, has called on all state governments in Nigeria to pass the Child’s Right Act, saying this is important to ensure that every Nigerian child has equitable and optimal chance to survive, grow and develop.

Dr Omoigberale gave the call at a press conference to flag off the association’s 50th anniversary and scientific conference at the University College Hospital, Ibadan on Tuesday.

Omoigberale, flanked by PAN’s president-elect, Dr Edward Alikor, Dr Ngozi Ibeziako and Dr Fidelis Eki-Udoko said many states are yet to pass this act into law despite Nigeria being signatory to the act and its importance to ensuring rights of children.

The PAN President said no child should be denied access to quality healthcare, either at the federal, state or local government, and it is also important that the Federal Government institutionalise immunisation schedule to prevent missed opportunities for vaccinating children.

According to him, more emphasis needs to be placed on immunisation, given that it is able to prevent many childhood diseases, dispel rumor on immunization, and discourage anti-vaccinator who spread the idea of vaccine-hesitance.

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In its bid to ensure proper care of children in Nigeria, he said PAN was developing treatment protocols and guidelines for managing common childhood diseases in Nigeria, especially at the primary healthcare level where paediatricians may not be available.

PAN’s immediate past president, Dr Ngozi Ibeziako, stated that many Nigerian children were still dying from many preventable causes like birth asphyxia, malnutrition, neonatal sepsis, neonatal jaundice and respiratory infections.

Ibeziako advocated for skill birth deliveries to curtail some deaths in newborns and urged for increased education of mothers on disease preventive interventions such as sleeping under mosquito nets, clean environment, adequate hand washing, exclusive breast feeding and appropriate local complementary feeding.

PAN’s president elect, Dr Edward Alikor said listed challenges against children’s health in Nigeria to include inadequate investment in health and high level of ignorance of Nigerians on health preventive measures.

He stated that unlike in developed countries, private investment in health in Nigeria was poor, adding that many countries that Nigerians go for medical care provide these facilities through private sector involvements.