As the deadline for achieving Millennium Development Goals approaches and Nigeria’s Newborn mortality rates remain among the highest in the world, it is very vital that countries like Nigeria make urgent and substantial improvements in Child survival indices. But this won’t happen in Nigeria unless the crisis of newborn deaths is tackled. ARFH joined Save the Children and partners in newborn and child health to call on governments and partners to renew effort towards child survival across the world. Research indicates that Newborn deaths are 2-times higher among poor households than they are with the rich and nearly 30% higher within the first 24 hours of birth. With the Every Newborn Action Plan being developed to drive renewed commitments around Newborn health, the year 2014 offers a good opportunity for recording milestones in Newborn survival. To support this global focus; Save the Children launched a New-born publication titled ‘Ending Newborn Deaths’ on the 25th February 2014 at Fountain phentermine Hall, Rockview Royale, Wuse 2, Abuja. The publication calls for increased action to support New-born health In Nigeria and across the world.
ARFH remains committed to working with partners to ensure child survival in Nigeria. Through United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Expanded Social Marketing Project in Nigeria (ESMPIN) Project, ARFH is working with partners; the Society for Family Health, in collaboration with Population Service International (PSI), BBC Media Action and to expand access to Child spacing and improve child survival in Nigeria through the private sector market. ARFH is also working with Save The Children in Nigeria on the Links for Children Project aimed at expanding access to care and support for children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS using a proven community-based approach while building the capacity of indigenous organizations to enable children and families to continue accessing such services in an effective and sustainable manner.
Click here for photos from the events.
