Health
In Nigeria, about 2,300 under-five year olds and 145 women of childbearing age die every day. Nigeria is the second largest contributor to the under-five and maternal mortality rate in the whole world.
Nigeria is the second largest contributor to the under-five and maternal mortality rate in the whole world
Malnutrition is the underlying cause of morbidity and mortality of a large proportion of children under-5 in Nigeria. It accounts for more than 50 per cent of deaths of children in this age bracket. Preventable or treatable infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per cent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria.
The deaths of newborn babies in Nigeria represent a quarter of the total number of deaths of children under-five. The majority of these occur within the first week of life, mainly due to complications during pregnancy and delivery reflecting the intimate link between newborn survival and the quality of maternal care. Main causes of neonatal deaths are birth asphyxia, severe infection including tetanus and premature birth.
Similarly, a woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria is 1 in 13. Although many of these deaths are preventable, the coverage and quality of health care services in Nigeria continue to fail women and children. Presently, less than 20 per cent of health facilities offer emergency obstetric care and only 35 per cent of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants.
In today’s Nigeria, a woman’s chance of dying from pregnancy and child birth is 1in 13
In today’s Nigeria, only 35% of deliveries are attended by skilled birth attendants.
The North-West and North-East geopolitical zones have the worst child survival figures.
Table 1: Comparative performance of infant mortality rates of selected countries
S/N Country
Total (Death per 1,000 live births)
1 Burkina Faso 73.80
2 Nigeria 71.20
3 Sierra Leone 70.00
4 Congo DR 69.80
5 Ghana 36.30
6 Senegal 50.30
7 Cote devoir 57.20
8 USA 5.80
9 France and Spain 3.30
10 Germany 3.00
Source: www.worldbymap.org
Ghana outperforms Nigeria in the death per 1,000 live births ranking.
Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world with a prevalence rate of 3.4%. Given the size of Nigeria’s population, about 3.5 million people were living with HIV in 2015.
HIV prevalence is highest in Nigeria’s southern states (known as the South South Zone), and stands at 5.5%. It is lowest in the southeast (the South East Zone) where there is a prevalence of 1.8%. There are higher rates of HIV in rural areas (4%) than in urban ones (3%).
Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world with a prevalence rate of 3.4%
Approximately 180,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses in Nigeria in 2015. Since 2005, the reduction in the number of annual AIDS-related deaths has been minimal, indicative of the fact that only half (51%) of those living with HIV in Nigeria are accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART)
Since 2005, the reduction in the annual AIDS-related deaths has been minimal.
Source: www.avert.org
Top 10 Causes of Death in Nigeria.
S/n Diseases category Percentage (%)
1 Malaria 20%
2 Lower respiratory disease 19%
3 HIV 9%
4 Diarrheal 5%
5 Road injuries 5%
6 Protein-energy malnutrition 4%
7 Cancer 3%
8 Meningitis 3%
9 Stroke 3%
10 Tuberculosis 2%
Source: GBD compare 2010
Malaria is the leading cause of mortality in Nigeria. About 300,000 deaths every year, some 822 persons die of malaria every day including women and children.
Despite so many gains in malaria prevention and treatment Nigeria, the overall indicators do not portend well for Nigeria’s push for sustainable development, inclusive growth and shared prosperity. There is a glaring need for intervention in the maternal, newborn and child health care services among other health care needs of the greater number of Nigerians. Nigeria must rise to the occasion and develop adaptive phenomenological mechanisms that will attack the ontological causes of this scourge and bring succor to the ever-increasing ranks of vulnerable Nigerians, women and children inclusive. Now is the best time to alter this faltering narrative.
http://sustainabilitywatchngr.com/index.php/special-report/item/593-sdg-watch-indicators-and-projections

Who do we hold responsible for the things happening in this country?

"About one year after adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigeria is yet to chart a course or action plan for its implementation."

This country never ceases to amaze me.