ORJI, IKECHUKWU ANTHONY
ABUJA, NIGERIA..
Abstract.
This research examined Under-five Mortality as a case study for assessment of Millennium Development Goal 4 in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in the FCT, Abuja. The objective was to examine the efforts of the public sector, in Abuja Municipal Area Council in tackling child health care within the Millennium Development Goals Programmes. Two targets and 3 indicators for monitoring the Goals and aspects of the National Policy on health as it pertains to under-five child health were specifically selected. Five key issues came out prominently from the National Policy on health namely: child health Care Delivery system by the public sector,’ quality care and management of child health care; child health care issues outside the control of children and of course the Millennium Development Goal 4 and the 3 indicators. Including under-five mortality rate,’ Infant mortality rate and proportion of one year-old children immunized against measles. Thereafter, 2 hypotheses were formulated and tested with chi-square non-parametric test to ascertain their validity. The Research method used included desk, survey and instrument of structured questionnaire. The populations of study were three categories namely: Officials of the Special Assistant to the President on the MDGs; Primary Health care services providers in 5 selected PHC in AMAC; mother of under-five children in five AMAC Primary Health care centers. Sample size were determined using proportional stratification method and 222 samples were given questionnaires which consisted of thirty questions and data collected were processed using descriptive statistical analysis, percentages and manual computation. The research found discrepancies and unsatisfactory performance of indicators pertaining to Millennium Development Goal 4 (to reduce child mortality) by 2015. The research however found that the implementation of Midwives Service Scheme by the Federal Government has scaled up performance and acted as catalyst with a turnaround in the focus and performance of the Millennium Development Goal 4. This new system if properly sustained would have certainly ensure a high score towards reduction by 2/3rd of’ under 5 Mortality Rate by the life span of MDGs in October 2015. The research accordingly recommended the stepping up of Midwives Service Scheme and at the same time, free medical services for children under 5 and for pregnant women in the Abuja “Municipal Area Council, as two sure sources for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4. The research also recommended that immunization Programmes for children should be directed at measles eradication and vaccines for the “six killer diseases? of children, among other recommendation.
Keywords: Under-five child mortality, millennium development goal 4,Immunization, Mortality Rate, Ante-Natal Care, Public sector.
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