Under 5 child mortality rate drops by 37% in Jigawa -UNICEF
Under 5 child mortality rate has dropped by 37% in Jigawa State, the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) has revealed.
UNICEF Chief, Kano Office, Rahama Mohammed Farah stated this on Friday at the launching of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 6 results for 2021, in Dutse, Jigawa capital.
He said the 2021 MICS indicated that the under-five mortality rate in Jigawa State slightly dropped by 37%, with 174 death per 1000 live births against the MICS 2011 and 2016 which showed 275 and 192 death per 1000 birth respectively.
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“From 2011 to 2021, it achieved the reduction of under 5 mortality by 37% which is a substantial progress that needs to be continued and sustained.”
Farah said the state has the highest number of under-5 mortality compared to others – with 70 points more than the national average.
According to him, the outcome of the MICS 6 report is a source of concern as it shows the critical situation the children are living in and how they are also facing an uncertain future.
“Survey further shows that 73.9% of children in Jigawa are multi-dimensionally poor.
“This showed that children’s rights are not being fulfilled and they are deprived of their basic rights to survival, protection, and development.”
Farah, however, urged policymakers, community leaders, civil society organisations and relevant stakeholders to put more effort into improving the current human development situation in the state.
