FIC Report (Delta State) – The Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission (NPC) representing Delta State, Hon. (Mrs.) Blessyn Brume-Ataguba yesterday officially flagged off the 2024 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) Study in Asaba the State capital with the exercise taking place in 22 out of the 25 local government areas of the State.
The Hon. Federal Commissioner who was flanked by the State Director National Population Commission NPC, Mr. Clement Onaro, the Technical Assistant Sir. Sylvester Evuarherhe, other Management Staff as well as the Coordinator Edo/Delta for Verbal and Social Autopsy Survey, Ekeleoseye Akhidenor during a press briefing at the NPC Conference Hall at Asaba, stated that the training had earlier been opened for interviewers involved in the 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy Survey held at the Kini Country Guest Inn where the urgent need for comprehensive data to combat preventable deaths among women and children were highlighted.
Delivering her address, Hon. (Mrs.) Brume-Ataguba noted that the Chairman of the National Population Commission NPC , Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra had emphasised that this year’s study builds on successes of previous assessments earlier conducted in 2014 and 2019 respectively with the aim of deepening understanding of the factors contributing to maternal and under-five mortality. “Despite our progress, we continue to face challenges that claim the lives of too many women and children” , the Chairman stated while noting that understanding the factors responsible for the high rate maternal and under-five mortality that claim the lives of women of reproductive age and children, were essential for enhancing the nation’s healthcare system.
Hon. (Mrs.) Brume-Ataguba noted that the 2024 VASA Study is a collaborative effort involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, ICF and funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), aims to collect vital data that will inform policies and interventions at both national and state levels adding that key national agencies including the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are also integral to this initiative, underscoring the importance of a collective approach to data-driven decision-making.
The NPC boss therefore, called on state governments to support the study by facilitating field work while urging all stakeholders to remain focused throughout the process. He stressed the critical role interviewers will play as frontline data collectors.
Speaking further, Hon. (Mrs.) Brume-Ataguba pointed out that the Government of Nigeria has also identified obtaining more accurate national and zonal estimates of causes and determinants of neonatal and child mortality as a high priority, disclosing that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), actively assists the Government of Nigeria to attain its health goals. She added that USAID supported NPC to plan and conduct the 2013 Demographic and Health Survey that identified recent deaths of children under 5 years old.
According to her, the VASA Study which is expected to generate data on under 5 and maternal mortality is very important to Delta State, stressing that the President and Commander in Chief Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is implementing programs that would reduce both child and maternal mortality in all states of the Federation. She emphasized that the data generated from the Study would help monitor and evaluate the progress of such programs.
“The Nigeria VASA Study is part of Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group’s(CHERG) effort to directly estimate the causes and determinants of neonatal and child mortality in several high priority countries in order to assist country initiatives to improve mortality estimates and also contribute to country efforts to improve health policy and program development. Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) she explained, would also use the large-scale, high-quality data provided by the VASA Studies to complement and improve its causes of death models” the NPC Federal Commissioner noted.
Again she disclosed that the 2024 VASA Study is a follow-up to the 2023/24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) primarily aimed at investigating the underlying causes and contributing factors responsible for deaths among children aged zero to five years and women of reproductive age in Nigeria. She pointed out that unlike past studies that focused only on causes of under-5 deaths, the 2024 VASA Study seeks to provide causative patterns and trends surrounding both under-5 as well as maternal mortality in Nigeria emphasizing that; “To stop mothers and children from dying we first need to know who is dying, from what causes, and where” she stated.
Hon. (Mrs.) Brume-Ataguba therefore, called on all stakeholders and the press to help disseminate the program importance to all nooks and crannies of the State as according to her, this vital study aims to pave way for improved healthcare policies and ultimately to reduce maternal and child mortality rates across Nigeria.
Earlier in his opening remark, the State Director NPC, Mr. Clement Onaro said the 2024 VASA Study is a follow-up to 2023/24 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey NDHS while calling on the media to assist in publicity and advocacy campaign to ensure that the message gets to the public for better understanding by the public across the State and beyond.
Also speaking, the Edo/Delta Coordinator VASA Survey, Ekeleoseye Akhidenor said the Study is a selected sample survey in specific local government areas, adding that the result of the previous NDHS prompted the need to carry out Verbal and Social Autopsy Survey as follow-up of DHS earlier done in all states in Nigeria noting that it would enable Government to understand the causes of the high rate of maternal mortality as it would help Government to plan for its citizens on health.
She added that they are interviewing households on the symptoms and causes of deaths of children, 28 days to four years and adults 12 to 50 years ; why health facilities are not accessible to them and if available and accessible, why are they not using such facilities . The NPC Federal Commissioner also stated that getting such data would enable them advise Government on what to do in order to help the citizens in addressing the challenge of high mortality rate which she noted was becoming alarming
The VASA Coordinator also said the exercise would be carried out in Edo and Delta for 42 days and they have spent one week in Delta already and have covered eight LGAs.
She concluded by emphasizing that NPC in addition to conducting census, birth and death registration, the Commission equally carries out useful research programs that re helpful to both Government and the general public.
Signed
Felix Ijomah
HOC FIC Asaba
