CHAMPS Nigeria brings gold standard disease surveillance and data to the fight for child survival

August 18, 2026,  ABUJA, NIGERIA — Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) and the University of Calabar, in partnership with  State and Federal Health Agencies, today formally launched the national Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Nigeria,  a landmark initiative to identify the true causes of deaths among children under five, newborns, and stillbirths — and to provide evidence to public health agencies and partners for life-saving action. The launch event, held in Abuja, brought together federal and state government leaders, global health partners, scientists, and community representatives.

Despite significant progress, too many Nigerian children still die before their fifth birthday, and many of these deaths occur without knowing their causes. CHAMPS closes this critical gap. Using rigorous, community-supported surveillance and advanced laboratory diagnostics, the program determines precisely why children and newborns die — giving decision-makers the evidence to target vaccines, treatment, and health investments where they will save the most lives.

“We work closely with communities to better understand serious health issues affecting children,” said Dr. Cynthia Whitney, Principal Investigator and Program Director, CHAMPS network. “Our findings help families know why they lost their child, help medical staff learn why they couldn’t save their patients, and enable public health leaders to make the best decisions.” 

CHAMPS is poised to make a remarkable impact in Nigeria, particularly in Bauchi and Cross River States, thanks to a strong partnership among dedicated Nigerian institutions, the Federal Ministry of Health, and local governments. CHAMPS Nigeria will also connect with a wider network of CHAMPS sites across eight countries in Africa and South Asia, backed by the Gates Foundation and the Hasso Plattner Foundation. CHAMPS findings from other sites in the Network have influenced key policy decisions in those countries and shaped global investments. 

“The launch of CHAMPS in Nigeria marks a transformative step towards understanding why children die, so that more children can survive. At CHAMPS ATBU Bauchi, we are poised to contribute high-quality evidence that will inform policies, strengthen health systems, and save lives across Nigeria and beyond.” – Prof. Muhammad Faruk Bashir, Principal Investigator, CHAMPS Nigeria – ATBU Bauchi Site.

“It is common knowledge that more children aged under five years die annually in Nigeria than in any other country in the world. Finding the root cause of these deaths is a critically urgent national priority,” said Prof. Martin Meremikwu, Principal Investigator, CHAMPS Nigeria-Cross River, citing data from the World Bank. “CHAMPS arrives at exactly the right moment to fill this critical knowledge gap with sites in the north and the south to capture the diversity that characterizes our national context.” 

Partners described the launch of CHAMPS Nigeria as a milestone for data-driven child health in the country and a model for the wider region. The national launch event marks the beginning of an expanded phase of engagement, in which CHAMPS Nigeria will work with government, health professionals, communities, and the media to ensure its evidence continues to translate into policy and action.

## END ###

About CHAMPS 

The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance network (CHAMPS), supported by the Gates Foundation and the Hasso Plattner Foundation, aims to increase understanding of the causes of stillbirth and death among children under 5 years, enabling scientists and public health leaders to take action. The CHAMPS network currently operates in 8 countries in Africa and South Asia.  CHAMPS sites work with communities to identify stillbirths and child deaths shortly after they occur, and with parents’ consent, collect samples and data, and conduct rigorous testing to investigate causes of death. Findings are shared with affected families, communities, and public health leaders to improve healthcare, policies, and programs that can save lives. Established in 2015, the CHAMPS network is led and coordinated by a Program Office within The Task Force for Global Health. For more information about CHAMPS, please visit: https://champshealth.org.

Media Contacts: 

Sampson Adotey | Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Program Office – info@champshealth.org

Muhammed Abdullahi Kobi | CHAMPS Bauchi – muhammadkobi15@gmail.com 

Mavis Otonkue | CHAMPS Calabar – mavisotonkue@gmail.com