Nigerian Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Care

Editorial Note
This issue presents a compelling body of work that reflects both the progress made and the critical
gaps that persist in neonatal care across West Africa. The articles collectively highlight the
complex interplay between clinical factors, system preparedness, and community practices that
shape newborn outcomes in our region.
From the survival challenges of preterm infants in North-Eastern Nigeria to the rising burden of
retinopathy of prematurity in Abuja, the need for strengthened neonatal services is evident. The
analyses on secondary-level neonatal healthcare and the call to reform neonatal systems in Kaduna
State underline a central message: robust, well-equipped, and efficiently coordinated health
systems are indispensable for reducing preventable neonatal deaths.
The case report on septic arthritis following traditional circumcision offers an important reminder
of the consequences of unsafe newborn care practices, while the study from The Gambia on
perinatal asphyxia draws attention to modifiable risk factors that demand urgent obstetric and
neonatal intervention.
Together, these contributions underscore the urgency of investing in quality neonatal care,
fostering partnerships across all levels of the health system, and promoting culturally aligned
community education. It is our hope that the evidence and insights presented here will inform
practice, stimulate policy action, and inspire continued research toward improving neonatal
survival and wellbeing throughout the region.

Professor Abdulkadir Isa
Editor in Chief, NJPNC