Dr. Ekanem Ekure, the President of the Paediatricians Association of Nigeria, has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to allocate just 4.3 percent to health in the 2026 national budget, describing it as a clear sign of inadequate investment in the welfare of Nigerian children.
She made this known while speaking at the 57th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of PAN held in Abeokuta, where she stressed the urgent need for remediation and medical assistance for victims of the Ogijo lead poisoning incident, which has largely affected children.
According to her, “Despite notable efforts, our country still grapples with high neonatal and under-five mortality rates of 41 and 110 per 1,000 live births, respectively, persistent malnutrition, suboptimal immunisation coverage, and inequitable access to quality child health services, among other challenges.”
She added, “While we appreciate the shutdown of offending factories, comprehensive remediation, medical intervention, regulatory enforcement, and national action to protect vulnerable children and safeguard their futures remain our demand,” she said.
Ekure called for tougher regulatory measures to shield vulnerable children, while drawing attention to Nigeria’s disturbing burden of preventable childhood diseases and deaths.
She also spoke on broader concerns including child abuse, kidnappings, and the effects of poverty, insecurity, and climate change on the rights and wellbeing of children.
Referencing Sustainable Development Goal 3, she advocated innovative financing approaches such as public private partnerships and outcome based funding tied to measurable results.
“Although Nigeria’s national child health policies and strategies align with this goal, sadly, the country remains one of those considered off track in achieving it,” she said.
Ekure further encouraged the use of technology to improve immunisation monitoring, disease surveillance, and access to healthcare services. Addressing the Federal Government directly, she stated, “To the Federal Government, our plea remains this: let there be clear evidence of strong political will that treats child health as a national development priority, not merely a sectoral issue,” she said.
She concluded by reaffirming PAN’s readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to translate research and expertise into tangible improvements in child health outcomes.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiaq Salako, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Child Health, Dr. Omokore Oluseyi, restated the government’s determination to cut down child mortality rates.
He disclosed that the National Child Survival Action Plan has been finalised, with emphasis on critical interventions such as newborn resuscitation and community level management of childhood illnesses.
He added that the ministry is currently digitalising the community management platform to support real time diagnosis and improve data collection.
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