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The Paediatricians Association of Nigeria (PAN) has criticised the Federal Government’s decision to allocate just 4.3 per cent of the 2026 national budget to the health sector, describing it as a worrying indication of poor investment in the health and future of Nigerian children.
The President of PAN, Dr Ekanem Ekure, said the allocation falls far below the 15 per cent benchmark set by the Abuja Declaration, stressing that child health continues to suffer from inadequate funding and weak prioritisation.
Call for Urgent Action on Child Health
Speaking on Thursday in Abeokuta at the opening ceremony of PAN’s 57th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, Ekure called for urgent government action to reverse Nigeria’s troubling child health indicators.
The conference was themed “Achieving SDG-3 and Child Health Care through Innovative Funding Models and Technology-Driven Solutions.”
According to Ekure, the theme reflects the urgent need for professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to confront Nigeria’s persistent child health challenges.
“Allocating only 4.3 per cent to health in the 2026 budget reflects poor prioritisation of child health and does not demonstrate the political will required to secure our children’s future,” she said.
Nigeria’s Alarming Child Health Statistics
Ekure disclosed that Nigeria continues to shoulder a disproportionate burden of preventable childhood illnesses and deaths.
“Despite notable efforts, our country still grapples with high neonatal and under-five mortality rates of 41 and 110 per 1,000 live births respectively, alongside persistent malnutrition, suboptimal immunisation coverage, and inequitable access to quality child health services,” she stated.
Ogijo Lead Poisoning Crisis Raises Fresh Concerns
The PAN President also raised concerns over the Ogijo lead poisoning crisis in Ogun State, linked to recycled battery factories, noting that children were the most affected.
While acknowledging the closure of the offending factories, Ekure insisted that more must be done.
“Comprehensive environmental remediation, medical intervention for victims, stronger regulatory enforcement, and coordinated national action remain critical to protecting vulnerable children and safeguarding their futures,” she said.
Rising Child Abuse and Insecurity
Ekure further lamented the increasing cases of child abuse across the country, including abductions from schools and markets, particularly in northern Nigeria.
She said these violations of children’s rights are worsened by poverty, conflict, insecurity, climate change, and emerging health threats.
“As paediatricians who witness these realities daily, we are morally compelled to speak out,” she added.
Nigeria Off Track on SDG-3
Ekure reminded stakeholders that Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3) commits countries to ensuring healthy lives and ending preventable deaths among newborns and children under five.
Although Nigeria’s child health policies align with the goal, she said the country remains off track in achieving it.
“Meeting SDG-3 by 2030 will require accelerated action, adequate financing, and innovative approaches beyond business as usual,” she noted.
PAN Advocates Innovative Funding and Technology
To bridge existing gaps, Ekure called for innovative funding models, including:
- Public-private partnerships
- Blended financing
- Outcome-based funding tied to verified results
She also urged greater use of technology to:
- Improve immunisation tracking and coverage
- Strengthen disease surveillance and data use
- Expand access to care through telemedicine and digital health platforms
Ekure reaffirmed PAN’s commitment to partnerships that translate policies into measurable improvements in child health outcomes.
“Child health must be treated as a national development priority, not merely a sectoral issue,” she said.
She also urged state governments to significantly increase health allocations, particularly for immunisation, nutrition, primary healthcare, and maternal and child health services.
“Adequate investment in child health is a cost-effective strategy for improving health outcomes and accelerating social and economic development,” she added.
FG Reaffirms Commitment to Reducing Child Mortality
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Isiaq Salako, represented by the Deputy Director of Child Health, Dr Omokore Oluseyi, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to reducing child mortality.
Salako disclosed that the government has finalised the National Child Survival Action Plan, which focuses on evidence-based interventions such as:
- Newborn resuscitation
- Integrated nutrition services
- Community-based management of childhood illnesses
He said the ministry is also leveraging technology by digitalising the integrated community management platform to enhance real-time diagnosis, referrals, and data capture.
Salako noted that Nigeria accounts for over 17 per cent of global under-five deaths, largely due to preventable conditions such as prematurity, pneumonia, malaria, and malnutrition.
He called on stakeholders to support the effective implementation of these initiatives, particularly in newborn care, child nutrition, and digital health.
Experts Emphasise Innovation
In his keynote lecture, Prof Olugbenga Mokolu, Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Ilorin and Strategic Adviser to the Ministry of Health on Malaria Elimination, stressed that innovative financing and technology deployment are critical to achieving SDG targets and reducing child mortality.
