The Minister of State for Well being and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has raised recent concern over Nigeria’s alarming contribution to global maternal deaths, stating that the nation accounts for about fourteen per cent of all such instances worldwide.
The minister made the comment on Thursday throughout his inaugural handle on the second day of the 2025 Joint Annual Overview Assembly in Abuja, themed All Arms, one mission: Bringing Nigeria’s Well being Sector to Gentle.
He mentioned that whereas Nigeria has recorded some progress within the well being sector, the enhancements will not be holding tempo with the nation’s quickly rising inhabitants and restricted sources.
Quoting the preliminary findings of the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Well being Survey, the minister mentioned the maternal mortality ratio had diminished to 5 hundred and twelve deaths per 100 thousand dwell births from 5 hundred and seventy six in 2018, whereas under-five mortality dropped to 1 hundred and ten deaths per one thousand dwell births from 100 and thirty two.
Neonatal mortality now stands at forty one deaths per one thousand dwell births.
He added that expert start attendance has risen from forty three to fifty three per cent, full immunisation protection has improved from thirty one to thirty 9 per cent, and trendy contraceptive use amongst married girls has reached twenty per cent.
Dr Salako described the figures as encouraging indicators of progress, however careworn that there’s nonetheless a protracted strategy to go. He famous that too many Nigerian girls proceed to die throughout childbirth, too many kids fail to achieve their fifth birthday, and too many households are pushed into hardship by medical bills.
He mentioned the Nigerian Well being Sector Renewal Funding Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration is an element of efforts to strengthen and remodel the nation’s healthcare system.
In keeping with him, “The federal government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, totally conscious of these challenges, is making concerted efforts in partnership with state and native governments, growth companions and civil society to speed up progress and ship a well being system that can optimally serve all Nigerians.”
The minister referred to as on all stakeholders to accentuate their efforts towards constructing dependable and sustainable healthcare system throughout the nation.
He additionally reaffirmed authorities plans to scale up well being financing, rent extra employees, and broaden entry to medical insurance for Nigerians.
