— Urges Stakeholders to Take Ownership of Child Survival Agenda
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has unveiled two key policy documents, the Nigerian Child Survival Action Plan (NCSAP) and the National Birth Defect Surveillance Guideline, as part of renewed efforts to end preventable deaths among children under five and reduce birth defects across the country.
Launching the documents at the commemoration of the 2025 World Pneumonia and Prematurity Days in Abuja on Wednesday, the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate CON, said the framework “Nigerian-driven solutions reflect our shared values and aspirations for child health and survival.”
The Coordinating Minister, represented by the Director Health Promotion Division Family Health Department FMOHSW, Chief John Oruakpa; noted that while Nigeria has made progress in reducing under-five mortality, from 201 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 110 in 2023, according to the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS)- the country is still “not yet on track” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of fewer than 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030.
“Despite a 45% drop in under-five deaths, an estimated 850,000 preventable newborn and child deaths occur annually in Nigeria. The health system continues to face a moral and economic burden, with about 280,000 babies dying within the first 28 days of life and 162,000 annual pneumonia-related deaths,” he lamented.
Highlighting the 2025 themes, “Give Preterm Babies a Strong Start for a Brighter Future” and “Child Survival: Focusing on Pneumonia’s Impact as the Leading Infectious Cause of Child Death”; Prof. Pate said both align with the health sector’s renewed drive to deliver quality, inclusive care for newborns and children under five, particularly in the face of climate change challenges.
The Coordinating Minister explained that the Nigerian Child Survival Action Plan was developed through extensive consultation with key partners to strengthen coordination across health, education, nutrition, and child protection sectors.
“A viable child survival strategy is essential for achieving immediate and long-term health impacts that drive national growth. The NCSAP is our collective aspiration to reduce under-five mortality to below 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030,” Pate stated.
He urged stakeholders to act with “a collective sense of urgency” to scale up priority interventions outlined in the plan and adhere strictly to the Birth Defect Surveillance Guideline at all levels.
“Our responsibility as key stakeholders is to scale up implementation at the subnational level, as this holds great promise for achieving the SDG targets on child health,” he said.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Minister added: “There is no room for complacency. The Ministry will continue to explore innovative partnerships to translate our commitments into effective action for child survival. This will require leadership, targeted resources, and a resilient health system that ensures the most vulnerable children benefit from our interventions.”
He expressed appreciation to development partners, including WHO, UNICEF, USAID, and Save the Children, for their continued collaboration in advancing child health and survival initiatives across Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom mni, affirmed that the commemoration signaled the Ministry’s continued emphasis on collaboration, evidence-driven action and system strengthening- hallmarks of National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative NHSRII and Sector Wide Approach SWAp.
Through these frameworks, the Permanent Secretary, ably represented by Dr. Amina Mohammed Director Child Health Division Family Health Department FMoHSW, asserted that the ceremony is a reminder that behind every statistic is a life, a family and a community; describing the forum as a shared platform for partners and policymakers to reaffirm their dedication to child survival.
Alaba Balogun
Deputy Director/Head, Information
& Public Relations
14 November 2025
