Concerned about the health and well-being of Nigerian children, especially those aged 5 to 17, stakeholders in research have urged governments and policymakers to implement effective health intervention policies tailored to this age group.
This appeal was made during a two-day National Policy Dialogue held in Abuja, organized by the Health Policy Research Group (HPRG) in partnership with the Rivers State Government and Chorus Research on Urban Health, under the theme: “Healthcare, Health-seeking, and Health Rights of School-aged Children in Nigeria.”
The research, which focused on both slum and non-slum communities in Rivers State, used various data collection methods to present quantitative and qualitative insights into the healthcare challenges school-aged children face.
As part of its PUSH Project (Protect Urban School Children’s Health)—a collaboration between HPRG and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka—the team conducted interviews, focus group discussions, classroom observations, and surveys involving 408 schoolchildren and 156 school staff.
Lead researcher Prince Agwu emphasized the need for greater attention to children over the age of four, stating that many illnesses—including malaria, fever, and respiratory infections—significantly affect those in the 5–17 age range.
“While Nigeria has made some progress in child health, particularly for children under five through immunization and reduced mortality rates, there remains a critical gap in policies and care for school-aged children, who make up around 70% of the child population,” Agwu said.
He also criticized the limited impact of existing legal frameworks and policies like the Child Rights Act, the National School Health Policy, and the National Policy on the Health and Development of Adolescents and Young People (2019), saying they have yet to meaningfully improve the health status of this demographic.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, reaffirmed her dedication to enhancing health outcomes for school-aged children. She explained that the PUSH project aims to assess and improve current health policies to ensure this age group receives the necessary support and services.
In her presentation, Oreh shared research findings that exposed significant shortfalls in the implementation of school health services, despite existing policy frameworks.
“Our study revealed key issues such as the failure to deliver primary healthcare services in schools, lack of adolescent-friendly services, and systemic problems like poor leadership, inadequate funding, and limited resources, which contribute to unsafe school environments and reliance on informal healthcare providers,” she stated.
Dr. Oreh stressed the need for stronger collaboration to close the gap between primary healthcare centres and schools—particularly in urban areas—given Nigeria’s estimated 65 million school-aged children.
The policy dialogue brought together a wide range of participants, including religious leaders, members of the children’s parliament, academics, and representatives from the health, education, social welfare, and justice sectors.