Daily Independent (Lagos)
3 March 2010
Lagos — The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) last week presented 'Science in Action', a report that provides overview of the current status of maternal, newborn and child health in sub-Saharan Africa to the public.
The report, a collaborative effort between Save the Children and researchers from the John Hopkins School of Public Health, proffers how lives could be saved if science is translated into action through health systems. The report observed that science has developed many effective health interventions such as medicines, immunisations, insecticide treated bed nets, essential equipment for emergency, obstetric care and numerous others but added that many African governments are currently under utilizing existing scientific knowledge to save lives.
The president of NAS, Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe, OFR, in his welcome address, called on government to explore the potential of science for national development, stressing that science remains the cornerstone to development.
Ibidapo-Obe disclosed that the NAS has reached conclusion on proffering solution to the crisis in the power sector, noting that soon the science body will present a blueprint on the resolution of the power crisis bedeviling the nation.
However, one of the high points of the presentation was a paper presented by Dr. Abimbola Williams of Save The Children, Abuja. The paper entitled "Science in Action: Newborn Health Packages", painted a grim picture of the many problems of newborn deaths in sun-Saharan Africa, with emphasis on Nigeria.
Abimbola observed that Nigeria ranks the highest in Africa in neonatal mortality with a record of 284,000 newborn deaths annually, while Niger Republic has the lowest, with 31799 newborn deaths annually.
Abimbola also noted that Nigeria is not making enough progress and needs to reduce less than 5 mortality rate (U5MR) by at least 10 per cent per year to meet Millennium Development Goal 4.
She remarked that up to 50 per cent of neonatal deaths are recorded in the first 24 hours and 75 per cent of neonatal deaths are recorded in the first week.
Dr Williams revealed that 18 per cent of neonatal mortality are recorded in public facility; 14 per cent at private facility and 66 per cent at home. She disclosed that around two thirds of births in Nigeria occur at home.
On the causes of newborn deaths in Nigeria, Willimas estimated that Tetanus accounts for 8 per cent; diarrhoea 40 per cent; infection 22 per cent; Preterm 25 per cent; Aspyxia 26 per cent; Congenital 7 per cent and others 8 per cent.
She noted that 25 per cent of the deaths in children below 5years take place in the first month of life.
Dr.williams revealed that about 700 newborn babies die each day in Nigeria and conclude that Nigeria ranks the highest in terms of the number neonatal deaths and the third highest in the world, accounting for 8 per cent of the worlds total.
She remarked that fro every mother that dies in Nigeria, six newborns die but added that majority of these deaths are preventable by delivery existing care better .
However, Dr. Wiliams also offers way out of these perceived health debacle.
She stated that if all the families in Nigeria received the same care as the richest, then NMR would be halved -127, 000 fewer newborn deaths each year
Some of the measures she proffers include, Routine postnatal care for mother and baby; Treating neonatal infections (and maternal postnatal complications) especially where referral is not possible; Extra care of preterm babies in the community, and linking to improved facility care, KMC; Integrated service delivery in practice, e.g. in settings with high HIV/AIDS prevalence through PMTCT and early feeding support and Improved facility-based care, especially improved neonatal care at district hospital level
In her conclusion, Williams noted that three preventable causes account for 85 per cent of newborn deaths in the country
She noted that up to 800,000 newborn deaths could be prevented if essential care reached 90 per cent of mothers and babies -how to deliver care to those who need it most.
She stressed that all types of research are required, but systematic pipeline (D-D-D-D) addressing priority questions would be more productive.
She added that breakthroughs in development and discovery research could significantly accelerate progress -science in action.
Proffering situation analysis and action for newborn health, Wiliams outlined the following measures. Builds on IMNCH strategy; Presents a more comprehensive status of newborn health and care in Nigeria; Includes newborn health data profiles for each state; Forms a platform for the development and implementation of action plans for newborn health
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