Nigeria loses 280,000 babies annually, Expert

Nigeria faces a critical challenge in newborn health, with an estimated 280,000 babies dying annually within the first 28 days of life. This grim statistic places Nigeria as the second-highest contributor to neonatal mortality worldwide. Olufunke Bolaji, Executive Director of the Centre for Newborn Health Research and Innovation (CeNHRI), highlighted that many of these deaths are preventable.

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Nigeria loses 280,000 newborns every year within the first 28 days of life. Nigeria is the second-highest contributor to neonatal deaths globally.

The primary causes of neonatal mortality in Nigeria include prematurity, perinatal asphyxia, and neonatal infections. Bolaji emphasized that these conditions are largely treatable and preventable with adequate skilled care. However, a significant gap persists between medical knowledge and its practical application at the point of care within the health system. This gap is exacerbated by insufficient structured training for health workers and a lack of locally generated research that translates into practice.

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Annually in Nigeria, 280,000 babies die before they have had a real chance to live, grow and fulfil their potential. What makes this burden even more painful is that many newborn deaths are preventable.

To combat this crisis, the Ekiti State government, with support from the Gates Foundation and the Initiative for Social Impact and Development, has inaugurated CeNHRI within the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital. The center's mandate is to generate evidence, build clinical capacity, drive innovation, and translate research into policy and practice specifically for newborn health.

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With skilled birth attendants, timely resuscitation, quality essential newborn care, improved management of small and sick newborns, better referral systems, and stronger frontline capacity, many babies who are lost today can survive.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji stated at the inauguration that CeNHRI will serve as a collaborative hub for researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and development partners. While located in Ado Ekiti, the center's mission is continental, aiming to generate knowledge and develop solutions that significantly reduce neonatal mortality across Africa. Bolaji added that the center targets improved outcomes for both mothers and newborns, addressing the vast health system gap that currently leads to the loss of so many young lives.

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While this centre is located in Ado Ekiti, the capital of the state, its mission extends far beyond our borders. CeNHRI has been deliberately conceived as an Africa-focused institution that will generate knowledge, develop solutions, strengthen health systems and contribute meaningfully to a remarkable reduction in neonatal mortality across the continent.