Human Development Index: Bill Gates points way forward for Nigeria
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Nigeria’s development challenges are no secret. Some of the country’s 36 states have health and socioeconomic data that resemble that of an active warzone. For instance, in May 2022, a World Health Organisation (WHO) publication showed that the country accounts for the second-highest number of maternal and child deaths globally. The report, titled ‘Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth: Progress Report 2023’, put Nigeria behind India in the ranking of the lowest performers.
It noted that in 2020, 788 women and children died ‘per thousand’ in India and 540 women and children ‘per thousand’ died in Nigeria.
While India accounted for 17 per cent of global maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths, Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy and the world’s most populous black country, accounted for 12 per cent.
Eight other countries with high maternal, neonatal, and stillbirths are Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Afghanistan, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
The latest United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) published last September, ranked Nigeria very low – 163rd out of 191 countries– for the second consecutive year.
The HDI, published annually by the UNDP since 1990, measures the long and healthy life, access to knowledge, and a decent standard of living of all countries.
By Egbe Robert
https://thenationonlineng.net/human-development-index-bill-gates-points-way-forward-for-nigeria/