Lagos Records Lowest Neonatal Mortality In South West – Report

The probability of a child dying within the first month of birth is very low in Lagos State, compared to other states in the South West region of the country, a new report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.

The report titled, “The 2021 Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS 6)”, revealed that 11 new-born children out of every 1,000 live births may probably die within the first month of birth in Lagos state, the lowest in the South West region.

This is followed by Osun State with 12 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births and Ondo with 18 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.

The highest neonatal deaths was recorded in Ogun State, with 56 neonatal deaths, out of every 1,000 live births, followed by Ekiti State, with 53 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births and 31 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births in Oyo.

Speaking on the findings of the survey, stakeholders who spoke with our correspondent, at a 2-day media dialogue on the 2021 MICS 6, for journalists in South West, organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lagos State directorate, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in Oyo state, applauded Lagos and Osun states for prioritizing Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) interventions.

Health specialist with UNICEF, Lagos field office, Dr. Ijeoma Agbo, said Lagos and Osun states seemed to be doing much better than most states in the South West zone. However, Agbo said one death was unacceptable, while urging the government of Lagos and Osun states to ensure that there was no record of death. For Ogun, Ekiti and Oyo states, she said neonatal mortality in these states were quite unacceptable, while urging the state governments to come up with MNCH interventions that will improve the poor health indices.