NPC Moves Against Infant, Maternal Mortality

National Population Commission (NPC) has inaugurated the 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy Study in Delta State aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality in Nigeria.

The federal commissioner representing Delta State in the commission, Mrs Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, disclosed at a news briefing Asaba that the study would be conducted in 22 of the 25 local government areas.

She explained that the project which focuses on under five and maternal mortality, is aimed at gathering vital data to inform policies at the national and state levels.

Brume-Ataguba said the Verbal Autopsy and Social Autopsy Study was an initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality in all states of the federation.

According to her, the study was a follow-up to the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographics and Health Survey focused on investigating the causes and contributing factors responsible for deaths among children aged 0-5 years and women of reproductive age.

“To stop mothers and children from dying, we first need to know who is dying, from what causes, and where these people are dying. So, we need to have this data,” she said.

The project coordinator for Edo and Delta states, Ekeleoseye Akhidenor, indicated that NPC had begun the study in eight out of the 22 local government areas earmarked, with 48 cases reviewed.

Meanwhile, Delta State director of the NPC, Mr Onaro Clement, stressed the importance of quality data for policy direction, noting that the NPC had trained interviewers for the execution of the 2024 Study.

“In the National Population Commission, we try our possible best to avoid bias. Whatever we do, we use statistical order. There are variables we apply in selecting these places that are affected in this survey.”

The stakeholders highlighted the need for residents to collaborate with the NPC in the step to improve maternal and child heath in the country.