The Federal Government has launched a nationwide campaign to screen one million newborns by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s high rate of child mortality through the early detection and treatment of congenital disorders.
The initiative, themed **”Every Baby Deserves a Healthy Start in Life: Advancing Early Detection,”** was launched in Lagos by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, in collaboration with ISN Medical and its global partner, Revvity.
Represented by the Director of Child Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Amina Mohammed, the minister described the programme as a major step towards strengthening newborn healthcare and improving child survival across the country.
According to her, the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII) by generating data that will improve child survival indicators, strengthen health information systems and support evidence-based decision-making.
She said the programme also complements the government’s Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) by integrating newborn screening into national maternal, newborn and child health programmes instead of treating it as a stand-alone intervention.
The minister added that the campaign supports the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) by promoting early diagnosis and treatment of congenital conditions that contribute significantly to neonatal deaths.
Pate called on development partners, donors, professional bodies, academic institutions and implementing agencies to align their technical and financial support with the priorities of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He also urged stakeholders to adopt the newly released World Health Organisation (WHO) framework on newborn screening, diagnosis and management of birth defects to ensure Nigeria’s programme meets international standards while addressing local healthcare needs.
The minister commended ISN Medical and its partners for supporting the government’s vision of expanding equitable access to quality newborn screening services nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive Officer of ISN Medical, Felix Ofungwu, said the campaign was necessary because Nigeria continues to record one of the highest under-five mortality rates globally, with many deaths linked to birth defects and congenital disorders that could be detected and managed early.
He explained that many children suffer lifelong disabilities or die because congenital conditions are discovered too late.
“There is no need for these preventable deaths and complications when many of these conditions can be detected early and effectively managed,” Ofungwu said.
He disclosed that the organisation aims to screen at least one million babies between now and 2030.
According to him, newborn screening has become standard practice in many developed countries, with some nations in Europe and North America achieving nearly 100 per cent coverage while testing newborns for as many as 30 medical conditions.
In contrast, he said research suggests that fewer than five per cent of Nigerian newborns are currently screened, even for a single congenital condition.
“There is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that every Nigerian child receives the healthy start in life they deserve,” he added.
Also speaking, Finland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, represented by Commercial Counsellor Eero Toivainen, praised ISN Medical and its partners for spearheading the initiative.
He described the goal of screening one million newborns as an ambitious but important investment in the future of Nigerian children.
Toivainen noted that about 150,000 babies are born annually in Nigeria with sickle cell disease, warning that without early diagnosis and intervention, between 50 and 80 per cent may not survive beyond the age of five.
He reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to supporting partnerships that promote innovation and improve healthcare outcomes.
“Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves an equal opportunity for a healthy start in life,” he said.
The one million newborn screening campaign is expected to improve early diagnosis of congenital disorders, reduce preventable child deaths and contribute to Nigeria’s drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
