Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has raised alarm over child mortality rates in northern Nigeria, warning that a newborn in the region faces a 15 percent chance of dying before reaching the age of five.
Speaking during a global health forum, Gates said the situation highlights deep inequalities in access to healthcare, nutrition, and vaccines.
He noted that while progress has been made in reducing child deaths globally, northern Nigeria remains one of the regions with the highest under-five mortality rates in the world.
According to Gates, malnutrition, preventable diseases, and weak health systems are the leading causes of child deaths in the region. He urged both the Nigerian government and international partners to scale up investments in primary healthcare, vaccine coverage, and maternal health services.
“Every child deserves a chance to celebrate their fifth birthday,” Gates said, adding that interventions such as immunization programs and improved nutrition can drastically reduce preventable deaths.
Nigeria currently accounts for one of the largest shares of child mortality worldwide, with UNICEF data showing that more than 850 children under five die every day from largely preventable causes.
Gates emphasized that tackling the crisis in northern Nigeria is critical not only for saving lives but also for ensuring sustainable development in Africa’s most populous nation.
