Agency The National Population Commission has begun the 2024 Nigeria Verbal And Social Autopsy study which seeks to reduce maternity and infant mortality rates in Lagos State and other states in the country. Speaking at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos, the Federal Commissioner, NPC Lagos State, Mrs Saidat Oladunjoye, said the study was an important health initiative. Oladunjoye said that it would have a lasting impact on the well-being of mothers and children across the state and the entire nation.
She described the VASA study, which was implemented nationwide, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, as a crucial survey, designed to provide insights into the causes of under-five and maternal deaths in the communities. According to her, 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 a 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 five and for women of reproductive age. “This study will collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality, focusing on the social and health-related factors that contribute to these tragic losses. “This .