The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stressed the importance of ensuring that hospitals, particularly Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs), have readily available oxygen for newborns who may need it.
Martin Dohlsten, UNICEF Health Manager for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) and HIV, made this call on Monday, in Abuja.
According to him, 30 per cent of infant mortality in Nigeria is caused by delivery problems, with 50 per cent of these deaths occurring on the first day and 75 per cent within the first week.
The Health Manager stated that neonatal deaths, which made up 32 per cent of under-five mortality, were largely caused by birth asphyxia, prematurity, and infections, conditions that were preventable with proper care.
Need For Readily Available Oxygen for Newborns
Dohlsten explained that asphyxiated newborns often required oxygen to survive, as their lungs might be underdeveloped.
He stressed the importance of having readily available oxygen in hospitals, which should be administered in a controlled, regulated manner to avoid harm to the baby.
He said that Nigeria ranked second in under-five mortality, and to meet the SDG 3.2 target by 2030, the country must accelerate efforts to reduce mortality rates.
Dohlsten also attributed many newborn deaths to lack of essential resources such as electricity, running water, skilled care providers, and neonatal resuscitation equipment.
He emphasised that investment in maternal, newborn, and child health was crucial for improving outcomes and ensuring equitable access to quality care.
According to the UNICEF official, UNICEF has supported the installation of nine Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants in nine states and the establishment of level-2 newborn units in Kaduna, Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, and Bauchi states.
HE said that these plants have been handed over to the states with ongoing support for capacity building and sustainability.
Story Credit: NAN
