Dr Muhammad Bashir Faruk, Principal Investigator, the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project, has said that child mortality is alarming in Bauchi State, as 125 deaths are recorded in every 1000 of under-five children.
Dr Faruk disclosed this on Monday during a One-Day Media workshop organised by CHAMPS, a project being implemented by the College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi.
He expressed concern that the State has one of the highest child deaths while lamenting the situation in Northern Nigeria and beyond.
According to the 2023/2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 125 out of every 1,000 live births in Bauchi die before the age of five
Dr Faruk highlighted that the average under-five mortality rate is 127 per 1,000 live births in the Northeast region.
He called on families to cooperate with CHAMPS researchers by allowing medical investigations, such as biopsies, on deceased children to uncover accurate causes of death, a step beyond conventional clinical assessments.
This is coming in spite of claims by the State Government that it is prioritising the healthcare sector in the State.
Health experts argue that child mortality reflects systemic neglect, inadequate investment in primary healthcare, and poor maternal and child health services.
CHAMPS, with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through Emory University, USA, themed the workshop “Promoting Child Health Through Media Advocacy,” aimed to equip journalists with the tools to spotlight child mortality and push for accountability from policymakers.
ATBU Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Hassan Garba, in his remarks, urged journalists to use their platforms to influence stakeholders and galvanise support for child health interventions.
At the end of the training, participating journalists developed a strategic work plan to guide coverage and messaging across print, radio, TV, and digital platforms.
