A recent report has raised concerns as it reveals that Sokoto State is grappling with a staggering newborn mortality rate, with 44 out of every 100 newborns not surviving. In response, the government is urgently calling for locally developed solutions to tackle this pressing issue, both within the state and nationwide.
Addressing this distressing situation, Salma Ibrahim, the Special Adviser overseeing the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health, emphasized the critical need for immediate action during a meeting with Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
Ibrahim underscored that Sokoto State bears a heavy burden of maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria, with a significant number of newborn deaths occurring within its borders. According to the 2018 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) survey, Sokoto’s newborn mortality rate surpasses the national average, standing at 44 deaths per 100 newborns compared to the national average of 34.
During the discussion with Governor Aliyu, Ibrahim highlighted concerning statistics, stating, “Seventy-three per cent of pregnant women do not have access to or choose not to attend antenatal care for reasons known to them. If you don’t attend ANC, it means that if there is a problem, you will not know. Moreover, the percentage of women delivering with skilled birth attendants in Sokoto State is alarmingly low, at 27% out of more than 50 deliveries per 100.”
Expressing the President’s deep concern for the well-being of women and children nationwide, Ibrahim emphasized the development of an urgent emergency strategy to address this pressing issue.
“We want the state to explore key drivers to find out the root causes of why women are not delivering in hospitals and come up with homegrown solutions. We are committed to supporting you,” Ibrahim stressed, as reported by The PUNCH.
In response, Governor Aliyu assured Ibrahim of the state’s commitment to collaborating with the Presidential Advisory Committee on Health to reverse the concerning trends and improve maternal and child health outcomes in Sokoto State.