Kaduna State Sees A Reduction In The Infant Mortality Rate

According to the Kaduna State administration, the state’s neonatal and newborn mortality rates have decreased.

Neonatal death rate decreased from 63 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 47 per 1,000 births in 2021, according to Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Mohammed-Baloni.

She made the announcement on Tuesday in Kaduna while speaking at the 12th Kaduna State Council on Health meeting.

Mohammed-Baloni said that between 2018 and 2021, the death rate for children under the age of five decreased from 187 per 1,000 live births.

According to her, Kaduna State had the lowest under-five mortality rate in the Northwest geopolitical zone in 2021, with 127 deaths per 1,000 live births.

The rate, however, was somewhat higher than the 102 per 1,000 births national average rate, the commissioner stated.

“Most reproductive, maternal, and child indicators showed a general improvement, and Kaduna State outperformed all other states in the Northwest zone in terms of under-five mortality rate.

The percentage of 1-year-olds in Kaduna State who had gotten three doses of the combination diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis vaccination (Penta3) increased from 26.5% in 2017 to 60% in 2021.

“In terms of immunization against diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis (Penta-3) in 2021, Kaduna State was recognized as the best improved state in the Northwest zone,” she stated.