By Lucky Isibor
The National Population Commission (NPC) has appealed to residents of Edo State to cooperate with its officials who are conducting the 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) Study in the state.
The the Honourable Federal Commissioner of the Commission in charge of Edo State, Dr. Tony Aiyejina who made the call at a press briefing in Benin City Friday, 29 November, noted that the survey is part of the commission’s technical and specialised surveys designed to generate empirical findings and relevant data for government policy engineering to attend to the needs of the citizenry.
The Honorable Federal Commissioner pointed out that the VASA survey is being conducted by the NPC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FOMH) which is a follow up of the 2023-2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDPS) that was conducted in May this year.
“The VASA survey is one of NPC’s specialised surveys designed to generate empirical findings and relevant data for government policy engineering to attend to the needs of our citizens.
“The National Population Commission (NPC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) is implementing this nationwide 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 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.
“In Edo State, we have benefited from the strong collaboration between the NPC, FMOH, and our valued state partners to successfully implerement health related projects in the past, and we are confident that this collaboration will once again ensure success for the VASA study. This study will collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality, focusing on the social and heatthrelated factors that contribute to these tragic losses. This information will empower decision-makers to address the underlying issues that lead to 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 throughout the state between 4th November to 15th December 2024. 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. This sensitive but essential process requires the cooperation and support of every individual and community.
While appealing for the support of traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders and residents on the imperatives of a smooth and successful VASA survey, Dr. Aiyejina emphasised the role of these critical stakeholders in enhancing the success of the survey.
“We recognize the vital role that traditional and community leaders play in mobilizing community support and facilitating the smooth conduct of activities like the VASA study. We call on our revered leaders to lend their voices in support of this 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.
“Additionally, 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 heatthier future for our families.
“The collaboration and support of every resident of our dear state is crucial for the VASA study. We ask that you receive our data collectors with understanding and kindness and that you actively participate by sharing the important details that will help us address the issues of maternal and child health”.
The NPC Federal Commissioner also used the occasion of the press briefing to reemphasise the need for Edo residents to participate in the ongoing electronic birth registration of children by the commission.
Aiyejina who regretted that Edo State is lagging behind in the e-birth registration exercise which he said is for children between the ages of 0-5 appealed to Edo residents to bring their children for the birth registration adding that electronically generated birth certificates will be issued to the children at the end of the exercise which he said will end on the 31st of December this year.
‘The electronic birth registration is going on throughout the country, including Edo State. It was flagged off on the 29th of July by Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of Nigeria, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu. It is an essential component of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of Mr. President. The e-birth registration focuses on 0 – 5 years and is ongoing throughout the federation. Children of 0-5 have to be registered through this platform and electronically generated birth certificate will be issued. All that is required is the NIN of either parents of the child, the mother or the father, or the NIN of the dependant or a member of the family. Our outdoor registers are all over the place, you will find them in health centres and other public places”.
Also adding her voice to the Honourable Federal Commissioner’s appeal, the Coordinator of the third series of VASA, Edo and Delta States, Ekeleoseye Akhidenor solicited the cooperation of those to be interviewed to avail the commission’s staff correct, accurate and factual answers to the questions.
She listed the communities and local government areas the 3rd series VASA survey will be conducted to include Uhonmora in Owan West, Agbede, Ayogwiri and Auchi in Etsako Local Government Area (LGA).
Others are Egor in Egor LGA, Igue – Iheya and Utezi in Ovia North-East LGA; Agenegbode in Etsako East LGA, Igara in Akoko-Edo LGA and Ekae in Oredo LGA.
Others are Iwogban in Ikpoba-Okha LGA, Eyaen in Uhunmwode LGA, Oghaugbo in Esan Central LGA and Okaro village in Ovia South West LGA.
The VASA survey which commenced on 4 November will end on 15 December this year.