The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that 91 per cent of women in Rivers give birth with the assistance of skilled birth attendants.

UNICEF Health Manager, Dr Martin Dohlsten, disclosed this on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during a media dialogue on neonatal healthcare, childhood illnesses, and vaccination.

According to Dohlsten, only 46 per cent of women in Nigeria overall deliver with the help of doctors, nurses, or midwives.

He noted that the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the country were linked to the presence or absence of skilled birth attendants during delivery.

Dohlsten also revealed that 32 per cent of newborn deaths in Nigeria occurred within the first 28 days of life, primarily due to premature birth or birth asphyxia.

Additionally, 79 per cent of neonatal deaths are caused by infections, prematurity, and asphyxia.

He identified several factors contributing to these deaths, including unstable electricity, a shortage of skilled birth attendants, weak referral systems, and the absence of clinical guidelines for maternal and newborn care.

However, he emphasised that with the right policies and the provision of basic healthcare services, significant progress in neonatal healthcare could be achieved.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Health Specialist in Rivers, Dr Abe Eghe, reported that the state achieved 78 per cent of its measles vaccination coverage target in 2024.

He highlighted UNICEF’s ongoing support for the state’s supplementary immunisation efforts and routine vaccination programmes.

According to him, UNICEF ensures that the state has adequate resources, technical assistance, and financial support to improve immunisation coverage.

“Currently we’re also supporting them with a big catch-up campaign, where we are trying to reach those children who were missed during the COVID era.

“At that time, there was a reduction in immunisation coverage after the COVID era, because a lot of persons were not able to access immunisation. So we’re trying to see how we can catch up.

“We continue to support them with community engagement.

“We are reaching out to the community to encourage mothers, encourage caregivers, and also reaching out to traditional leaders to see how we can further improve their uptake of immunisation.”

Eghe described measles as a vaccine-preventable disease that continued to cause significant mortality and morbidity in developing countries.

He explained that the virus was transmitted through airborne respiratory droplets and other means, remaining infectious in the air for up to two hours even after an infected person had left the area.

According to him, those at highest risk of contracting measles include unvaccinated children, infants under five years old, malnourished children, adults over 30, unvaccinated pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Similarly, the Chief Field Officer for Port Harcourt, Dr Anslem Audu, highlighted neonatal healthcare and childhood illnesses as ongoing challenges in Nigeria.

He emphasised that too many children continued to suffer from preventable diseases, leading to premature deaths and long-term health complications.

According to him, too many children still face premature deaths and debilitating health issues that could otherwise be prevented

“In recent years, we have witnessed remarkable progress in maternal and child health, however, our work is far from over.

“Neonatal mortality is an urgent priority, and we must continue to advocate for and implement interventions that ensure every child receives the healthcare they deserve from the moment they are born.”.

He added that it was crucial for the nation’s healthcare systems to be strengthened, while also emphasising the need to increase access to quality services, and raise awareness about the importance of early and continuous healthcare for children.

Audu said that one of the most effective tools was vaccination and that the MR vaccine, which protected children against measles and rubella, was a cornerstone of efforts to prevent debilitating childhood illnesses. (NAN)