Nigeria records over 26 thousand births on new year day – UNICEF
By Muizat Hameed
Mr. Peter Hawkins, a Nigerian representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund has reported that an estimated 26, 039 babies were reportedly born throughout Nigeria on New Year’s Day.
He announced this in a statement where he said Nigeria would account for seven per cent of the estimated 392,078 babies born on New Year’s Day globally.
Mr. Peter said, this number is the third highest number of babies in the world with; India’s 67,385 and China’s 46,299 coming first and second respectively.
He said, “The beginning of new year, a new decade, is a chance for us to reflect on our hopes and dreams for the future of Nigeria, especially for those who stand to inherit this country; its children.”
Mr. Peter added, “As we start each New Year, we are reminded of the potential of each and every Nigerian child embarking on his or her life’s journey if only they are given that chance to survive and thrive.”
He however noted that for millions of newborns around the world, the day of their birth was far less auspicious and sadly was often their last. He further said that 2.5 millions newborn died in their very first month of life worldwide in 2018, and about a third of them died on their first day of life.
A total of 318,522 deaths were recorded in Nigeria, most of which died from preventable events such as premature birth, intra delivery complications and infections like sepsis.
He added that more than 2.5 million babies are born dead each year, with more than 400,000 stillborn deaths taking place in Nigeria annually.
This, he said had prompted UNICEF to stage a campaign, Every Child Alive, aimed at investing in health workers by giving them adequate training.
“Workers are equipped with the right medicines to ensure every mother and newborn is cared for by a safe pair of hands to prevent and treat complications during pregnancy, delivery and birth.”
He added that the campaign can ensure that millions of babies survive their first day and live into the new decade and beyond, by ensuring that every mother has good pregnancy care and every baby is born into a safe pair of hands.
He concluded that achieving the above means having well equipped facilities with well trained staff that can be there to welcome every Nigerian child into this world safely and healthily.