NPC seeks support for verbal autopsy study in Sokoto

The National Population Commission (NPC) has called on community leaders and grassroots individuals to support the success of the 2024 Verbal And Social Autopsy (VASA) study in Sokoto state.

Alhaji Chiso Dattijo, NPC National Commissioner in charge of Sokoto state, made the appeal at a press conference in Sokoto on Wednesday.

He said the VASA study, conducted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, aimed to investigate the causes of maternal and neonatal deaths in communities across the state.

He said the survey followed up on the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted in May 2024.

Dattijo emphasised that the commission had made adequate arrangements and trained enumerators for the exercise, considering security issues, distance, and logistics challenges.

“The study builds on previous efforts from 2014 and 2019, providing valuable information that shaped health policies to reduce preventable deaths.

“The NPC will revisit NDHS households to gather information on the biomedical and social causes of death among children under five and women of reproductive age.

“This data will empower decision-makers to address underlying issues leading to these deaths and inform policies aimed at improving maternal and child health.”

Dattijo urged traditional and community leaders to encourage their members to participate in the process, while also appealing to the general public to cooperate with interviewers.

He assured that all documentation would be treated with utmost respect and confidentiality.

The State Director of NPC, Alhaji Malami Marafa-Gagi, clarified that the exercise was not a new study but a continuation of the NDHS exercise to gather relevant information on causes of death, diseases, and services.

The news Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise is scheduled to run until December 15, this year.

(NAN)