13 LGAs in Ondo selected to address causes of child, maternal mortality

The National Population Commission (NPC) has selected 13 local government areas (LGAs) in Ondo State to focus on addressing the causes of child and maternal deaths.

This announcement was made by Mr. Ayodeji Ajayi, the National Commissioner for Ekiti State, during a news conference in Akure on Tuesday. The project, which includes the Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) and the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (ECRVS), aims to improve maternal and child health across the state.

Ajayi, who also oversees the NPC’s activities in Ondo State, stressed that the survey is a crucial step in gathering data that will inform health policies and interventions that can reduce preventable deaths.

The 13 selected LGAs for this study are Akoko North-East, Akoko South-West, Owo, Akure South, Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Ondo West, Idanre, Odigbo, Ifedore, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele, and Ilaje.

Represented by Mrs. Olayinka Chijioke, the Ondo State Director of NPC, Ajayi explained that the VASA study seeks to identify both the social and medical factors contributing to the deaths of mothers and children under five.

This study follows earlier rounds conducted in 2014 and 2019, which played a key role in shaping health policies aimed at reducing preventable deaths.

Ajayi also shared that this study builds upon the findings from the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which concluded earlier this year. As part of the process, the NPC will return to the same households surveyed in the NDHS to gather additional information to help the government better understand and address the underlying causes of maternal and child mortality.

Fieldwork for the VASA study will take place from November 4 to December 15, 2024, in the 13 LGAs.

Trained data collectors, who have already completed similar work in Ekiti and Osun States, will visit households to conduct interviews and gather information on the causes of death, focusing on both biomedical and social factors.

Ajayi urged local communities, especially traditional leaders, to cooperate with the survey, emphasizing that their support is essential to its success.

He encouraged leaders to motivate their communities to participate fully in the study, stressing that the information gathered would contribute to a healthier future for the state.

“The leadership and support from local leaders will ensure that the study is well-received and that the data gathered will reflect the real experiences and challenges in our communities. Your participation is vital to help us prevent unnecessary deaths and improve health outcomes for all,” Ajayi said.

Alongside the VASA study, the NPC has introduced the E-CRVS platform, which will replace traditional paper-based registration with a digital solution that aligns with global standards. Ajayi noted that Ondo State is targeting the registration of 238,169 unregistered children as part of the E-CRVS initiative.

Since its launch in 2023, the E-CRVS initiative, which is being implemented in collaboration with UNICEF, has made significant progress across Nigeria. In Ondo State, 986 ad-hoc staff have been trained and deployed to assist with the registration of children under five using advanced digital tools.

Ajayi appealed for continued cooperation from residents of Ondo State, reiterating that both the VASA study and the E-CRVS are vital to improving public health and ensuring a brighter future for the state’s citizens.