By: Bayero Ade
The National Population Commission (NPC) has selected 13 local government areas (LGAs) in Ondo State to address the causes of maternal and child deaths. The announcement was made by Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, the National Commissioner for Ekiti State, during a news conference in Akure on Tuesday. The focus is on the Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study and the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (ECRVS) in Ondo State.
Ajayi, who also oversees Ondo State for the NPC, emphasized that this survey is a critical data collection initiative aimed at improving the health and well-being of mothers and children across the state.
The selected LGAs for the survey include Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Owo, Akure South, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ondo West, Idanre, Odigbo, Ifedore, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele, and Ilaje.
Represented by Mrs. Olayinka Chijioke, the Ondo State Director of NPC, Ajayi explained that the VASA study is designed to provide insights into the causes of maternal and child deaths, focusing on both biomedical and social factors that contribute to these tragic outcomes.
The survey, which is being conducted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, builds on previous studies from 2014 and 2019. These earlier studies provided critical information that helped shape policies and interventions to reduce preventable deaths. The current round of the study follows the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which concluded in May.
Ajayi further explained that the VASA study would revisit households that participated in the NDHS to gather additional information on the causes of deaths among children under age 5 and women of reproductive age. He emphasized that the data collected will help inform government policies aimed at improving maternal and child health.
Fieldwork for the study will take place between November 4 and December 15, 2024, in the 13 selected LGAs. Data collectors, who have already completed similar work in Ekiti and Osun States, will visit households to conduct interviews with family members. The goal is to gather information on the social and health-related factors contributing to maternal and child mortality.
Ajayi called for the cooperation of local communities, including traditional leaders, to ensure the success of the study. He encouraged leaders to support the survey and motivate their communities to participate fully.
“Your leadership is invaluable in ensuring the success of this study. By sharing your experiences, you will be directly contributing to a project aimed at preventing unnecessary losses and ensuring a healthier future for our families,” Ajayi said.
In addition to the VASA study, the NPC has launched the E-CRVS platform, which transitions the country from paper-based recording of vital events to a digital solution that aligns with international best practices. Ajayi highlighted that Ondo State is targeting the registration of 238,169 unregistered children across its 18 LGAs as part of the E-CRVS initiative.
Since its launch in 2023, NPC, in partnership with UNICEF, has made significant progress in digitizing vital records across the country, with Ondo State achieving great success in this regard. To support this initiative, 986 ad-hoc staff have been trained and deployed to facilitate the registration of children under 5 using advanced digital tools.
Ajayi called for continued support from the people of Ondo State, stressing that both the VASA study and the E-CRVS are essential to improving the health and well-being of the state’s population.
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