This document analyzes Nigeria's progress toward Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality. It finds that while policies aim to reduce under-5 mortality, challenges like poor infrastructure, cultural beliefs, and inadequate funding mean the target of a two-thirds reduction by 2015 is unlikely to be achieved. Current annual declines in under-5 mortality are less than half of what is required. The goal may be possible in later years if governance and resources improve.

1. MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT
GOAL 4 IN NIGERIA: THE CASE SO
FAR,AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF
REACHING THE TARGET.

2. OUTLINE
• BACKGROUND
• CURRENT TRENDS AND PATTERNS
• POLICY ISSUES
• CHALLENGES
• LIKELIHOOD OF REACHING THE GOAL.

3. BACKGROUND
• MDG 4 is to reduce child mortality.
• Target is to reduce child mortality by two thirds in
2005.
• Focus in this case is under-5 mortality indicator in
Nigeria; a country in Sub-Saharan Africa region.
• Reduce under-5 mortality from a value of 191
per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 64 per live births
in 2005.
• Other indicators are immunization rate in one
year olds, and infant mortality.

4. BACKGROUND
• Nigeria is a large country with a population of
148.1 million people
• West Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
• Has one of the highest rates of child mortality
• One of the poor nations
• Somewhat decentralised healthcare system
via the 3 tier system
• Private and Public sector involved in
healthcare delivery

5. CURRENT TRENDS AND PATTERNS
Under-5 mortality values in recent years
200
Current
150 trend
100
Target
50
1990 2001 2006 2015

6. MAJOR CAUSES OF UNDER-5
MORTALITY IN NIGERIA
• Malnutrition accounts for about 56% generally
• Malaria
• Pneumonia Causes of Under-5 mortality
• Neonatal causes 5% 5% Malnutritio
n
• Diarrhoeal illnesses 10% Malaria
56% Pneumonia
25%
Diarrhoeal
illnesses

7. CURRENT POLICIES AND SYSTEMS IN PLACE
• Policies on child health mainly built on
recommendations by WHO AND UNICEF
priorities.
• Strategies in place are;
1. Integrated Maternal and Child health; 2003
2. Partnership for Maternal and child health; 2007
3. National co-ordination and roll out to states
4. Integrated management of childhood illnesses.

8. MAIN INTERVENTIONS BASED ON
STRATEGY
• ANC in mother
• Putting to breast 30 minutes after birth
• Exclusive Breastfeeding 0-5 months
• Expanded programme on immunization
• Use of Insecticide treated Mosquito bed nets
• Use of ORT for Diarrhoea
• Use of oral Zinc in diarrhoea
• Use of antibiotics in pneumonia

9. CHALLENGES
• Political: 3 tier system in place, corruption, poor
governance and commitment
• Structural: Weak infrastructure, lack of adequate
staff, equipment, poor programme
implementation.
• Cultural: Beliefs and taboos such as Abiku/
Ogbanje
• Financial: Inadequate resources
• Poor data collection, analysis and registration
systems.

10. LIKELIHOOD OF MEETING THE TARGET
• Nigeria MDG progress report 2004 says its
unlikely.
• UN report indicates 0 percent probability.
• 2005 report says its probable in the face of
improved governance and commitment, more
financial resources.
• But have the recent figures and happenings
proved it?

11. LIKELIHOOD CONT’D AND CONCLUSION
• UN requires 4.5% decline to achieve the
goal, but current rate is less than 2.5%.
• Current political and economic situation in the
country, worsening the healthcare system.
• Other MDGs also lagging behind hence
affecting the overall picture.
• The goal not attainable in 2015, maybe in later
years.

12. REFERENCES
• UNICEF-At a glance: Nigeria.
ttp://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nigeria.html.
• MDG Monitor: Tracking the millennium development
goal in Nigeria. http://www.mdgmonitor.org/factsheets
• Christopher J.L. Murray et al. Can we achieve Millennium
Development Goal 4? New analysis of country trends and
forecasts of under-5 mortality to 2015. Lancelot 2007;
370: 1040-1054.
• United Nations Development programme Nigeria: MDGs
at a glance.
http://www.ng.undp.org/mdgsngprogress.shtml.
• Andy Haines, Andrew Cassels; Can the millennium
development goals be attained? BMJ 2004; 329; 394-397.