The National Population Commission, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, has launched the Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy Study (VASA) to provide insights into the causes of under-5 and maternal deaths in Osun communities.
Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the Federal Commissioner of National Population Commission in Osun State, Dr Amidu Tadese Raheem, stated that the health initiative would have a lasting impact on the well-being of mothers and children across the state.
Tadese disclosed that Osun State has benefited from strong collaboration between NPC, FMoH, and state partners to successfully implement health-related projects in the past, expressing confidence in the VASA study’s ability to achieve the desired goal.
“This study will collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality, focusing on the social and health-related factors to these tragic losses”.
While emphasising the need for accurate study, the commissioner charged community and religious leaders with mobilising community support and facilitating the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Speaking, the team supervisor for Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, Olusola Kareem, disclosed that the fieldwork, covering 22 local government areas of the state, would expose the circumstances surrounding maternal and child deaths for an appropriate solution in the state.
