Anambra: NPC Launches 2024 VASA Study to Enhance Maternal, Child Health

By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka

On Nov 22, 2024

The National Population Commission (NPC) has identified the Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study as a pivotal health initiative aimed at improving the well-being of women and children in Anambra State.

During the launch of the 2024 VASA Study in Awka the state capital, Federal Commissioner for Anambra State, Chidi Ezeoke, emphasized the study’s potential for lasting impact on maternal and child health outcomes across the region. Ezeoke, represented by NPC State Director Dr. Kingsley Okereke, noted that the survey is designed to illuminate the underlying causes of under-5 and maternal deaths within local communities.

“The 2024 VASA study represents a collaborative effort that leverages data-driven decision-making, demonstrating our shared commitment to enhancing health outcomes for our most vulnerable populations,” Ezeoke stated. “This study will compile essential data on maternal and child mortality, examining the social and health-related factors that contribute to these tragic losses.

“The information gathered through this initiative aims to empower policymakers to tackle the root causes behind these deaths, thereby informing strategies that will ultimately improve maternal and child health services statewide and beyond.

“The study commenced on November 4, 2023, and is scheduled to conclude on December 15, 2023, in 17 selected communities throughout Anambra.” Ezeoke urged community members to support the data collection process.

“Our trained data collectors will visit households to conduct interviews with family members, aiming to gather crucial insights into the circumstances surrounding maternal and child deaths,” he said. “The NPC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, is implementing this vital nationwide study. Notably, the four excluded local government areas—Ayamelum, Nnewi South, Onitsha North, and Orumba South—were determined based on previous surveys that indicated low rates of maternal and child mortality.”

Former NPC Director, Mrs. Chinyere Maduagwuna, highlighted that the focus on women and children stems from their historically high mortality rates, underscoring the urgency of addressing these issues.

“This latest round of the VASA study builds on the findings from previous studies conducted in 2014 and 2019, which provided critical data that has shaped health policies and interventions aimed at reducing preventable deaths,” she added.