NPC LAUNCHES VASA STUDY TO COMBAT CHILD AND MATERNAL MORTALITY 26-11-24
By Sadiq Aminu In a significant step towards improving maternal and child health in Nigeria, the National Population Commission (NPC) has launched the 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) Study.
This vital initiative aims to investigate the root causes of child mortality and maternal deaths in Nigeria, providing valuable insights to inform targeted health interventions.
Speaking at the launch, Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Kano State, Dr. Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa emphasized the importance of this study in addressing the urgent public health issue of child and maternal mortality.
“The VASA study is not just another research endeavour; it is a key step in addressing an urgent public health issue that affects countless families across our nation,” he stated.
The VASA study will examine the social and medical factors surrounding deaths of under 5 children and women of reproductive age, seeking to uncover why so many children under the age of five and women of reproductive age are lost to preventable causes.
This data will be invaluable in developing targeted health interventions, enhancing healthcare delivery, and ultimately reducing child and maternal mortality in Nigerian communities.
The study is a collaborative effort involving the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, ICF, and funding from USAID.
Key national agencies, including the National Bureau of Statistics and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, are also integral to this initiative.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, represented by Nasiru Baba-Saleh, noted that the VASA study is essential in providing information on the biological and social factors of neonatal, child, and adult female deaths, with a special interest in maternal deaths.
The NPC has called on stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, government agencies, community leaders, families, and the media, to support and participate in the study.
The success of this study depends on the collective effort of all stakeholders.
By launching the VASA study, the National Population Commission is reaffirming its commitment to reducing child and maternal mortality, improving healthcare delivery, and building a healthier, more resilient future for Nigeria.