The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for hospitals, especially Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs), to have readily available oxygen for newborns in critical need.
Martin Dohlsten, UNICEF Health Manager for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) and HIV, made this appeal during an interview with journalists on Monday in Abuja.
He revealed that 30 percent of infant mortality in Nigeria results from complications during delivery, with 50 percent of these deaths occurring on the first day and 75 percent within the first week.
Dohlsten further highlighted that neonatal deaths, which account for 32 percent of under-five mortality, are primarily caused by birth asphyxia, prematurity, and infections—conditions that could be prevented with adequate medical care.
*“Newborns suffering from asphyxia often require oxygen to survive, as their lungs may be underdeveloped.
“It is crucial that oxygen is available in hospitals and administered in a controlled, regulated manner to avoid causing harm,”* he said.
He stressed that Nigeria ranks second in under-five mortality globally, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.2 target by 2030 requires urgent efforts to reduce these deaths.
Dohlsten also attributed many neonatal deaths to a lack of basic healthcare resources, including electricity, running water, skilled healthcare providers, and neonatal resuscitation equipment.
He emphasized the need for greater investment in maternal, newborn, and child health to improve healthcare outcomes and ensure equitable access to quality services.
*“UNICEF has supported the installation of nine Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants across nine states and the establishment of level-2 newborn care units in Kaduna, Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Sokoto, and Bauchi states.
“These plants have been handed over to the states, with ongoing support for capacity building and sustainability,”* he said.
(NAN)