As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate World Pneumonia and Prematurity Day, the Federal Government has pledged to intensify collaborations with stakeholders to reduce under-five mortality rates.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, made the pledge in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing to mark World Pneumonia and Prematurity Day.

This year’s themes, “Access to Quality Care Everywhere” for World Prematurity Day and “Championing the Fight to Stop Pneumonia” for World Pneumonia Day, highlight the critical need for quality care and sustained partnerships to protect children’s lives.

Dr. Salako revealed that over 700,000 preventable under-five deaths occur annually in Nigeria, representing 16% of the global figure.

He described childhood pneumonia as a “forgotten killer,” stressing its significant contribution to global childhood morbidity and mortality.

“Globally, approximately 100 million episodes of childhood pneumonia result in 808,920 deaths, with low and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, accounting for three-quarters of these mortalities,” Dr. Salako stated.

He warned that without swift action and the adoption of proven interventions, Nigeria risks missing the Sustainable Development Goals target for child mortality reduction by 2030.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing the under-five mortality rate from 132 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 per 1,000 in 2023, as reported by the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

To demonstrate this commitment, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with global coalitions such as Every Breast Counts Coalition and local organizations like the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, is implementing targeted interventions.

A significant milestone was the donation of 400 Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines by HATCH Technologies and the Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN). These devices will be distributed to 139 health facilities nationwide to support neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.

Dr. Salako explained that the initiative aligns with the Nigeria Every Newborn Action Plan (NiENP) 2023 to reduce neonatal deaths to 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

Earlier, the Director of Family Health at the Ministry, Dr. Benjamin Ukaire, raised concerns over findings from the preliminary 2023-2024 NDHS report, which showed an increase in neonatal mortality rates from 39 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to over 40 per 1,000 in 2023-2024.

He attributed this rise to complications from pneumonia and prematurity, particularly among vulnerable newborns, describing the trend as unacceptable.

The Country Director, World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Walter Mulomba, represented by Dr. Mary Brantuo, reaffirmed the organization’s support for Nigeria’s efforts to combat pneumonia and prematurity.

She urged stakeholders to align with this year’s themes and intensify efforts to improve child health outcomes across the country.