Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the 2024 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study to investigate the root causes of maternal and child mortality.
Truth Live News gathered that this novel nationwide initiative aims to address the alarming rates of under-five and maternal deaths, estimated at 110 per 1,000 live births. Conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and international partners, the study will gather data across all 36 states and the FCT until mid-December 2024.
The study builds on findings from the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and targets over 4,800 cases to understand the social and biomedical factors leading to preventable deaths. Data collection includes household interviews, group discussions, and in-depth community assessments in selected local government areas, with a focus on care-seeking patterns and community health issues.
NPC Chairman, Hon. Nasir Isa Kwarra, emphasized the study’s potential to inform evidence-based policies and interventions to reduce mortality rates. Stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, and the media, have been urged to support this effort, which seeks to create sustainable improvements in maternal and child health.
This is the third edition of the VASA study, following previous rounds in 2014 and 2019, and is part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to achieve sustainable health outcomes.