NIGERIA EVERY NEWBORN ACTION PLAN
Plan · Health
A Plan sets targets to reduce newborn deaths in Nigeria by implementing evidence-based interventions. It targets newborns, midwives, and health facilities for essential care services. This lowers neonatal mortality rates through improved maternal and child health practices.
NIGERIA EVERY NEWBORN ACTION PLAN
What Is This Policy?
Nigeria's national plan aligned with the global Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), setting targets and evidence-based interventions to eliminate preventable newborn deaths and stillbirths by 2035.
Who Does It Target?
Newborns (0-28 days) as primary beneficiaries Midwives, nurses, and neonatologists Maternity hospitals and primary health centres State Ministries of Health implementing newborn care
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Reduce Nigeria's neonatal mortality rate (currently one of the highest in the world) through universal coverage of essential newborn care and quality management of sick newborns.
Key Features
Essential Newborn Care: Promotes universal coverage of immediate newborn care including cord care, warming, and early breastfeeding. Skilled Birth Attendance: Links newborn outcomes to skilled birth attendance as the delivery platform for newborn care. Kangaroo Mother Care: Scale-up of KMC for premature and low birth weight babies. Newborn Illness Management: Strengthens facility and community capacity to manage common newborn illnesses including sepsis and birth asphyxia.
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Active — implementation through MCH programmes Coverage: Nationwide maternity and newborn services Beneficiaries: All newborns in Nigeria; their families Funding: Federal and state governments; UNICEF; WHO; donors
How to Access
Facilities providing deliveries must implement essential newborn care protocols Community health workers trained in newborn danger sign recognition and referral Parents: learn newborn danger signs and seek care immediately if present Application method: Access at https://www.health.gov.ng
Important Terms
Nigeria has approximately 270,000 newborn deaths annually — one of the highest globally Prematurity, birth asphyxia, and infections are the three leading causes of newborn death Quality of care at birth is the single most important point for newborn survival
Impact & Metrics
Implementation of ENAP interventions has reduced neonatal mortality in high-coverage states though national neonatal mortality rate remains very high.
Official Resources
Website: https://www.health.gov.ng Contact: Federal Ministry of Health — Newborn Health Division
Legal Framework
Operates under the National Health Act 2014, the Integrated Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Strategy, the Child Rights Act 2003, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act. Draws on the WHO Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP), the SDG 3 targets on neonatal mortality, and UNICEF newborn care guidelines.