CHILD DEATH REVIEWS IN NIGERIA
by Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, Afrihealth Optonet Association
Nigeria continues to lose thousands of children every year to largely preventable causes, yet the country has no comprehensive system to understand why these deaths occur. Presently, the nation relies on the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) framework, which focuses only on maternal, stillbirth, and neonatal deaths. The implication is that once a child survives the first 28 days of life, their death is largely invisible to formal review processes.
For children beyond the neonatal period, death investigations arefragmented. Hospitals may conduct internal mortality audits, but these are voluntary, non-standardized, poorly documented, and rarely result in meaningful reforms. Disease-specific surveillance systems capture deaths
from malaria, cholera, or other priority illnesses but focus on epidemiology rather than preventable system failures.
Legal avenues, such as coroner investigations, exist in a few states but are underfunded and inconsistently applied. Consequently, deaths from medical negligence, accidents, abuse, neglect, or unsafe environments often go unexamined.
There is a very recent case in Nigeria where Chimamanda Adiche’s young son tragically died on January 6, 2026, at a private hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, after a medical emergency that involved delayed intervention, inadequate monitoring, and mismanagement of care, highlighting critical
gaps in hospital accountability, patient safety, and emergency care systems for child health in the country. It has been said that several of such cases occur regularly across the country without diligent documentation andreviews.
In practice, Nigeria operates a partial, neonatal-focused facility audit, not a true child death review system. Without a legally mandated, multidisciplinary review of all child deaths, preventable errors continue unchecked, families are denied justice, and the health system cannot learn.
Establishing a National Child Death Review and Accountability System is critical for saving lives, improving healthcare quality, and protecting Nigerian children.
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje
CHIFA profile:
Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a leading voice in health education, community health, and advocacy, with decades of experience advancing people-centered development across Africa and beyond. His approach to health education emphasizes participatory learning, knowledge transfer, and behavior change communication, ensuring that individuals and communities gain the skills and awareness to make informed decisions about their health. He develops and delivers innovative health promotion strategies tailored to local realities, particularly in resource-limited settings. In community health, Dr. Adirieje has championed integrated primary health care, preventive medicine, and grassroots health initiatives. Through Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), which he leads, he connects civil society, community groups, and health institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery, tackle health inequities, and improve access to essential services for vulnerable populations. His work addresses infectious diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition, climate and health, environmental health, and emerging public health challenges. As a passionate advocate, Dr. Adirieje works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to influence health policy, mobilize resources, and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs). He amplifies community voices, ensuring that health systems are inclusive, accountable, and responsive. His advocacy extends beyond health to governance, environment, and social justice, positioning him as a multidisciplinary leader shaping healthier and more equitable societies. afrepton AT gmail.com