Taraba Parents Lament Persistent Neonatal Cases

Parents in Taraba State have expressed worry over persistent neonatal cases, calling on governments, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), parents, stakeholders in the health sector, and well-meaning Nigerians to take deliberate action to reduce the cases in the state.

The parents also thank Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State for launching campaign to tackle malnutrition among mothers and children from 2024 to 2025 to address both direct and indirect cases of malnutrition in the state.

Governor Kefas had on Monday 11th of November 2024 during a meeting with nutrition experts in Jalingo inaugurated a team of experts led by the state’s commissioner for health Dr. Bodia Buma, and charged the committee to fashion out ways to end malnutrition in the state.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Health Officer Mr. Oluseyi Olusunde revealed that neonatal cases persisted on a rising level in the northeastern part of Nigeria particularly in Taraba and Bauchi states of the zone.

He identified factors behind the persistent neonatal cases as poor access to quality health, cultural practices and beliefs, low level of maternal education, inadequate nutrition, conflict and insecurity and poverty; he stated this in Jos, Plateau State capital, on Thursday while giving a lecture on “Drivers of child mortality in Northeastern Nigeria.

Parents from Taraba State, while speaking on the persistent neonatal cases in Taraba, said it has become worrisome to see children die at birth as a result of poverty, lack of quality health care, low level of maternal education and malnutrition, particularly in the present century.

While speaking to LEADERSHIP in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, at the weekend, Mallam Liman Haruna, Mary Dooyum, Wole Ishaya, and Doris Avaan urged the government at all levels, NGOs, well-meaning Nigerians, and stakeholders in the health sector to make deliberate efforts to end neonatal cases in the state.

“We know that Taraba State has a large population that live in hard-to-reach areas; it is difficult for health workers to get to some places; that is why we are calling on government at all levels to make deliberate efforts to end the newborn deaths.

“We also appreciate Governor Kefas on his efforts to tackle malnutrition in the state, it is a good move to secure our future, if our children are healthy, we are sure of a better Taraba tomorrow,” Doris Avaan stated.