By: Ade Adeleke
……National Population Commission’s briefing focuses on Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) and Electronic civil registration and vital Statistic System (ECRVS) in Ondo State.
13 out of 18 local government areas in Ondo State have been selected by the National Population Commission (NPC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health in addressing causes of child and maternal death.
The National Commissioner of NPC for Ondo and Ekiti States, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, stated this at a news conference on Tuesday in Akure for the Verbal and Social Autopsy( VASA) and Electronic civil registration and vital Statistic System (ECRVS) in Ondo State.
ICF and John Hopkins University is providing Technical Support for the programme.
Ajayi, who also oversees the two State in NPC, said that the the survey was a data collection hampered on important health initiative that would have a lasting impact on the well-being of mothers and children across the state.
The local government areas are: Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Owo, , Akure South, Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo, Ondo West, Idanre, Odigbo, Ifedore, Êse-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele and Ilaje
Represented by Ondo State Director of NPC, Mrs Olayinka Chijioke, he added that the survey was designed to provide insights into the causes of under-five and maternal deaths in communities.
According to him, the NPC in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health is implementing the study.
“This round of VASA study builds on previous efforts from 2014 and 2019, which provided valuable information that helped shape health policies and interventions aimed at reducing preventable deaths.
“The study is follow-up to the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey( NDHS) that was concluded in May this year.
“ We will be going back to the NDHS households to ask for information that will help the government understand and plan to address the biomedical and social causes of death of children under age 5 and for women of reproductive age.
He explained that the study would collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality, focusing on the social and health-related factors that contribute to tragic losses.
“This information will empower decision-makers to address the underlying issues that lead to these deaths and will ultimately inform policies aimed at improving maternal and child health in the state and beyond.
“Fieldwork for this study will be conducted in selected communities of 13 local government areas of the state between Nov.4 and Dec. 15,2024.
“They are done in Ekiti and they are now in Osun State after which they will come to Ondo State.
“Our trained data collectors will visit households to conduct interviews with family members, gathering information that will help us understand the circumstances surrounding maternal and child deaths,” he stated.
The national commissioner asked the cooperation and support of every individual and community including traditional rulers in ensuring the success of the survey.
He urged leaders in various communities to lend their voices in support of the study, encouraging their communities to welcome the interviewers and participate fully in the process.
“Your leadership is invaluable in ensuring that this study is well-received and that the information gathered reflects the experiences and challenges within our communities.
“We urge the public to cooperate with our interviewers.
“ They are here to listen, gather, and document your experiences with the utmost respect and confidentiality.
“In sharing your experiences and welcoming our data collection teams, you are contributing directly to a project aimed at preventing unnecessary losses in our communities and securing a healthier future for our families,” Ajayi said.
He also said that the commission had launched E-CRVS as part of the government’s initiative to transition from paper-based recording of vital events to a digital solution that would meet international best practices.
Ajayi stressed that the initiative would revolutionize how vital events were recorded, tracked, and analysed in the country.
“NPC in collaboration with UNICEF embarked on this transformative journey in 2023 all over Nigeria.
“And Ondo State is not an exception with the target of 238,169 unregistered children across the 18 LGAs of Ondo State being targeted to be registered within the E-crvs platform which Ondo State recorded great successes,” he said.
According to him, NPC has trained 986 ad-hoc staff in the state who are actively deployed to facilitate the registration of children under 5 using advanced digital tools.
He asked good collaboration and support of every resident of the state , stating that the VASA study and E-CRVS were both crucial to well-being of the state.
