By Uduak Akai
UYO
The National Population Commission (NPC), Akwa Ibom State, has launched an important health initiative, 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study intended to have a lasting impact on the well-being of mothers and children across the state and Nigeria at large.
Addressing newsmen on the initiative during a press briefing held at the Commission’s office in Uyo, Thursday, the federal commissioner, NPC, Akwa Ibom State, Chief Benedict Ukpong, said the crucial survey is designed to provide insight into the causes of under-five and maternal deaths in communities.
Ukpong, an engineer, noted that the programme which is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and implemented nationwide, is a VASA study built on previous efforts from 2014 and 2019 which provided valuable information that helped shape health policies and interventions aimed at reducing preventable deaths. He added that the study is a follow-up to the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) that was concluded in May 2024.
He explained that NPC is embarking on NDHS households to inquire information that will help government understand and plan to address the biomedical and social causes of deaths of children under age five and women of productive age, noting that the commission has benefitted from strong collaboration from the Federal Ministry of Health, the State Ministry of Health and other valued partners to successfully implement health-related projects in the past.
He maintained that the study will collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality with focus on the social and health-related factors that contribute to these tragic losses and as well empower decision-makers to address the underlying issues that lead to these deaths while informing on policies aimed at improving maternal and child health in the state and beyond.
According to the NPC commissioner, the field study holding November 4 through December 15, 2024 will be conducted in select communities in 24 local government areas namely: Uyo, Uruan, Ibesikpo Asutan, Itu, Ikono, Ikot Ekpene, Ini, Nsit Atai, Essien Udim and Ibiono Ibom.
Others include: Abak, Oruk Anam, Ika, Etinan, Ukanafun, Okobo, Oron, Urue Offong/Oruko, Eket, Esit Eket, Nsit Ubium, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin and Onna.
He sued for collaboration and support from every resident of the state and appealed to them to receive the data collectors with understanding, kindness and actively participate by sharing important details that would help address the issues of maternal and child health.
He appreciated their partners, which include Akwa Ibom Government and Ministry of Health for their unwavering support and commitment to the success of the study and thanked the VASA team, community and traditional leaders for their dedication to this all-important study.
In his remark, the state director, NPC Akwa Ibom State, Mr Emmanuel Edem, explained that the day was set aside by the commission to inform Akwa Ibom citizens of the NPC’s VASA survey study to be conducted in 24 local government areas in the state, intimating that the essence of the exercise was to find out some causes of deaths of children from 0-5 years and women of productive age in the communities and to see how to plan to check some of these deaths experienced in the state.
Edem stressed that the briefing was to enlighten and carry Akwa Ibom people along and also inform the state government that NPC was in the field for the study, and solicited support and cooperation in all ways and places visited, to ensure the success of the exercise which at the end will be of great benefit to every citizen of the state.
In a goodwill message, the state commissioner for information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, hinted that Akwa Ibom is already doing a lot in the health sector by refurbishing health infrastructure and keeping them in place for the overall benefit of the citizens, adding that the effort of the NPC in carrying out the survey to know the causes of deaths of children aged 0-5 and women of productive age was quite commendable.
The commissioner represented by the director of strategy in the ministry, Mr Edem Okon, assured that the ministry would be a veritable partner towards ensuring the success of the exercise in the state by publicising the VASA study exercise activities through the ministry’s programme, Update Akwa Ibom, which is running in all radio and television stations across the state.
The commissioner commended the federal commissioner, Ukpong, for embarking on the exercise and the state director for being a strong backbone towards ensuring the success of the study in the state.
Similarly, the special adviser to the governor, Bureau of Political and Social Re-orientation, Elder Amanam Nkanga, commended NPC for collaborating with the Federal Government to implement the 2024 VASA study in all the states of the federation.
Nkanga, represented by the head of contact and mobilisation in the bureau, Mrs Nsisong Ikono, disclosed that the 2024 VASA study was the third edition following the conduct in 2014 and 2019 which built on data from 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), saying that it will also provide insights into the causes of under-five and maternal deaths in the communities.
He explained that the specialized study will visit households with reported under-five deaths in the most recent 2023-2024 NDHS and information with a view to helping government understand and plan to address biomedical and social causes of deaths of these persons.
The governor’s aide said NDHS has been instrumental in monitoring and improving maternal and child health by delivering comprehensive data of fertility, reproductive health, child nutrition and childhood mortality, noting that according to NDHS, under-five mortality rate in Nigeria is currently 110 deaths per 1,000 live births, saying that this figure indicates the high rate of under-five mortality and the need for urgent intervention.
He noted that the study would collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality focusing on the social and health-related factors that contribute to the tragic losseswhich, according to him, information gathered through this initiative aims at empowering policy makers to tackle the root causes behind those deaths and employ strategies that will ultimately improve maternal and child health services in the state and beyond.
Nkanga appreciated NPC, FMOH and other partners for their dedication to the successful implementation of the study and pledged the full cooperation of Akwa Ibom government to ensure the success of the exercise in the state, while calling on community leaders and members of the public to support the data collection process by cooperating and participating in the study.
The bureau boss expressed optimism that with the study as a useful tool for policy makers and programme implementers, it will be a collective effort towards reducing infant and child mortality to the barest minimum in Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria in general.
He as well urged the VASA team to make the study successful in the state in order to contribute to a brighter and healthier future for our communities and country.
Present during the briefing were management staff of the commission, VASA team members led by the supervisor, Mr. Bassey Akwa, and comptrollers, among other guests.
It featured questionand answer session, comments and contributions.
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