Nigeria Faces Alarming Child Mortality Rates, Report Reveals
A recent United Nations report highlights a staggering reality: in 2024, Nigeria is expected to see approximately 4.9 million children, including 2.3 million newborns, die before their fifth birthday. This positions the country among those with the highest child mortality rates globally.
Preventable Deaths Point to Health System Disparities
The UN’s analysis of child mortality trends and levels underscores that most of these deaths are preventable through effective, low-cost interventions and enhanced access to quality healthcare. The findings reveal persistent disparities within health systems, particularly across nations burdened by high mortality rates.
Progress in Child Survival Rates Is Stalling
According to the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, while under-five mortality rates have decreased by more than half since 2000, the pace of this decline has significantly slowed. Since 2015, the reduction rate has dipped by over 60%, raising alarms about stagnation in progress toward child survival. Other nations facing similar challenges include Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Niger.
Leading Causes of Child Deaths Include Preventable Diseases
Among the recorded fatalities, 36% of neonatal deaths stemmed from complications related to preterm birth, while labor and delivery complications accounted for another 21%. Infectious diseases remain the predominant cause of mortality among young children, with malaria being the leading culprit—it alone accounts for 17% of deaths in children aged 1 to 59 months, primarily in Nigeria and other high-burden countries.
Malnutrition: An Underrecognized Threat
The report reveals that pneumonia and diarrhea—diseases that are both preventable and treatable—continue to claim lives due to inadequate access to timely healthcare and basic health services. It emphasizes that sub-Saharan Africa is projected to account for 58% of all under-five deaths in 2024, with major infectious diseases contributing to over half of these fatalities, starkly contrasting with significantly lower rates in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Case for Robust Investment in Child Health
For the first time, severe acute malnutrition has been identified as a crucial, yet often overlooked factor contributing to child mortality. The report estimates that over 100,000 children aged 1 to 59 months will die directly from malnutrition in 2024, amounting to roughly 5% of deaths in that demographic. However, this figure is likely an underestimation, as malnutrition exacerbates the vulnerability to diseases like malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea.
Urgent Call for Policy Action
The report strongly advocates for prioritizing child survival through enhanced investments in health interventions. Strategies like vaccinations, nutritional treatment, and ensuring skilled healthcare workers are present during childbirth can yield extensive benefits, potentially generating returns of up to $20 for every $1 invested in child health. To combat the recent stagnation, governments and partners must focus on strengthening primary health systems, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Furthermore, enhancing data collection and accountability in health services is crucial for tracking progress. UN officials caution that without renewed political commitment and sustained investments, preventable child deaths will persist, particularly in high-burden countries like Nigeria, where access to essential health and nutrition services remains uneven.
