RismadarVoice Reporters, July 26, 2026
Paediatricians have warned that delays in seeking medical care for sick newborns are contributing significantly to preventable neonatal deaths in Nigeria.
The child health specialists urged parents and caregivers to immediately take newborns to the hospital if they develop danger signs such as difficulty in breathing, convulsions, abnormal skin colour or extreme coldness, stressing that prompt treatment can save lives.
In an interview, a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at Bayero University, Kano, Dr Aminu Mohammad, said families must be educated to recognise early warning signs in babies, noting that the first 28 days of life are critical to a child’s survival.
He also called on healthcare workers to give priority attention to newborns on arrival at health facilities, saying early intervention greatly improves survival rates.
The paediatrician advocated improved access to antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, early breastfeeding and proper hygiene, while urging the government to strengthen policies integrating maternal and newborn healthcare, including health insurance coverage for babies immediately after birth.
Also speaking, Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Leo Odudu, stressed the importance of quality care during childbirth and the immediate postnatal period to reduce neonatal deaths.
The appeal comes amid concerns over Nigeria’s high newborn mortality rate.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the country recorded an estimated 20,811 maternal, neonatal and under-five deaths between January and September 2025, with neonatal deaths increasing from 1,706 in the first quarter to 1,900 in the third quarter.
The Ministry also reports that about 280,000 newborns die annually within their first 28 days of life, while childhood pneumonia claims about 162,000 lives each year.
