Stakeholders have called for increased Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccine uptake to prevent measles outbreaks and reduce childhood mortality in the country. Measles is one of the leading causes of death among children.
In 2023, Nigeria recorded 11,719 confirmed cases of measles, and 81 deaths while in 2024, about 9,821 confirmed cases were recorded with 77 deaths. Already, UNICEF has commenced out sensitisation campaign on rubella as the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) and partners plan to introduce Measles Rubella into the routine immunization schedule.
Speaking at a two-day Media Dialogue on Neonatal Healthcare, Childhood illnesses and Measles and Rubella Vaccination organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Port Harcourt, UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. Abe Eghe, said whereas measles, poliomyelitis, hepatitis, rotavirus are viral diseases that are preventable through the use of vaccines, measles is a contagious infectious disease that is still causing preventable mortality and morbidity in the country.
He noted that nine out of ten susceptible patients with close contact with an infected patient will develop the measles infection, adding that the strategies for improving vaccine coverage will depend on getting vaccinated either through supplemental immunization or improving measles case management, detection and treatment, as well as surveillance.
“Measles is highly infectious; nine out of ten people are susceptible, meaning that just touching a person or being close to that person makes you have the disease. The incubation period is ten to 12 days, when somebody gets exposed to the disease; it takes just ten to 12 days for the symptoms to start. The measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves that area.”
He explained that measles can be contracted through sneezing, coughing, saliva, kissing and touching a contaminated surface and can be contacted by the mother during pregnancy, labour, and nursing, as well as patients with compromised immune systems, HIV, and leukaemia, are also at risk of contracting measles.
Eghe noted that UNICEF has been championing vaccination campaigns across the country to reduce the number of children dying from vaccine-preventable diseases.
In Rivers State, UNICEF is supporting both routine and supplementary immunization, and ensuring that the states have adequate resources. “Last year, the state was supported to conduct a measles campaign, and got as much as 78 per cent of the target coverage,” he said.
UNICEF Health Manager, MNCAH and HIV, Martin Dohlsten, observed that Nigeria has a huge burden of child and neonatal mortality.
Dohlsten stated that only half of the women in Nigeria deliver with the assistance of skilled birth attendants, stressing that data from Rivers State showed significant patronage. “To achieve the SDG 3.2 target by 2030, Nigeria needs to rapidly accelerate under-five mortality rate reduction from 1.8 per cent to 16.5 per cent.”
According to him, if Nigeria were to get back on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.2 target, over 3,597,700 under-five deaths could be averted by 2030.
“Nigeria ranks second in under-five mortalities. If we look at mortality rates from children between one month to 59 months, it’s second. There’s a huge need to accelerate the decline in mortality for children, if Nigeria is to reach the goals set for 2030.”
Dohlsten disclosed that 79 per cent of newborn deaths were due to infections, prematurity and asphyxia, adding that progress in neonatal health care would be achieved if the government focused on them.
He blamed this on a lack of stable electricity, running water, skilled birth attendants, a solid referral system and a lack of clinical guidelines for maternal and newborn care.
SBC Specialist, UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Aderonke Akinola-Akinwole, said about seven million babies are born every year in Nigeria, about 262,000 of these babies die at birth, while double of this number die before their fifth birthday.
“This means that for every 13 children born per minute, one dies in infancy and nearly one dies within the first month of life. Nigeria accounts for the second-highest national total for neonatal mortality in the world,” she said.
Akinola-Akinwole stressed the need to decentralise the primary healthcare system with highly qualified and trained health workers delivering services, free immunization services and availability of health insurance.
Speaking during a field tour of the Model Primary Healthcare Centre located in Akpajo–Eleme, Rivers State, Chief Medical Director of Rivers State Hospitals Management Board, Dr Bright Ogbondah, said that UNICEF has built and equipped the neonatal healthcare unit at the Eleme General Hospital and assisted the state in providing the oxygen plants.
Ogbondah highlighted the tremendous impact the oxygen plant has made, especially in the treatment of critical illnesses, and complications arising from childbirth. He recalled that the initiative to establish the oxygen plant came during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which brought high demand for oxygen ventilators to take care of emergency cases at the isolation centre located within Eleme General Hospital.
Ogbondah disclosed that the oxygen plant now supplies medical oxygen to hospitals within the area, including the newly established Neonatal Healthcare Centre.
The Medical Director of the centre, Dr Leechi Okere, said the clinic was recently opened for operations; hence people are not yet aware of its services.
On his part, UNICEF Chief of Field Office Dr Anslem Audu, called for more investment in facilities to improve children’s healthcare, especially the newborn.
Audu said that neonatal healthcare and childhood illnesses have remained pressing challenges in Nigeria where too many children still face premature deaths and debilitating health issues that could otherwise be prevented.
He said although the country has witnessed remarkable progress in maternal and child health, the government must continue to implement interventions that ensure every child receives the healthcare they deserve from birth.
