NNIA Organises Kangaroo Mother Care Training In Collaboration With Ikeja Local Government In Lagos, Nigeria

The present situation of the Nigerian newborn needs urgent attention as the neonatal mortality rate of children under five (U5MR) is about 32%. This equates to approximately 128 /100 000 live births. Premature birth is one of the major causes of neonatal death.

Nigeria has the highest number of U5MR deaths in Africa and second highest in the world. Each year 267 000 babies die in the first month of life. This accounts for more than one third U5MR deaths. The reduction of newborn deaths will have implications for the whole of Africa.

Kangaroo mother care (KMC), often defined as skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn, frequent or exclusive breastfeeding, and early discharge from hospital, has been effective in reducing the risk of mortality among pre-term and low birth weight infants.

The cost of managing premature or low birth weight babies with conventional methods is high, hence KMC is essential to their survival.  KMC is a cost-effective, evidence-based, sustainable alternative to incubator care. 

This means that frontline/skilled birth attendants must to be trained in KMC, which will be rolled out in every healthcare facility according to a joint statement endorsed by the International Pediatric Association in February 2017. 

It is against this background that the NNIA collaborated with the Ikeja Local Government Primary Health Centers to organise the Kangaroo Mother Care workshops