Health experts have lamented the continued poor health ranking of Nigeria in comparison to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a threat that may affect the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 as envisaged.
According to the NDHS of 2018 as analysed recently by UNICEF at a media dialogue, 25% of Nigerians still practice open defecation while only 39% of households in rural communities have improved sanitation. Speaking to our correspondent, a health monitoring and evaluation specialist at UNICEF, Maureen Zubie-Okolo said Nigeria’s failure to use data in tackling its demographic challenge has left many children behind.
”As a result of lack of education, most women do not know what to do to keep their children healthy and alive’. Zubie –Okolo said In terms of vaccination, the NDHS shows that coverage has improved in the past 10 years because the percentage of children aged 12 – 23 months who received all basic vaccinations increased from 23% in 2008 to 31 in 2018.