2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy VASA Study is Being Carried out in 17 Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

By Hauwa Aliyu:

Over one hundred and fifty localities across 17 local government areas of Bauchi State have been selected for the conduct of this year’s Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy VASA, Study, a survey designed to provide insights into the causes of under five and martenal deaths.
The study is a follow up to the 2023 – 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health survey conducted in May this year to help identify biomedical and social causes of deaths among under five years children and women of reproductive age.
Speaking to newsmen in Bauchi ,the state VASA Coodinator Dr Gabriel Adah said 14th November to 15th December have been slated for the conduct of the survey in the selected communities.
According to him, the local governments where the study is being conducted are Alkaleri, Bauchi, Darazo, Dass, Gamawa, Ganjuwa, Itas Gadau, Katagum, Kirfi, Misau, Ningi, Shira, Tafawa Balewa, Toro, Warji and Zaki.
Dr Gabriel Adah who noted that already 7 out of the 17 local governments that were selected for the survey have been covered assured to complete the work before the deadline.
He said the study is timely considering the high rate of mortality and morbidity in the country because Nigeria is rated highest in the World that is why the survey is being carried out across the 36 states and the FCT.
Earlier, the Bauchi state Federal Commissioner National Population Commission NPC Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Darazo said the commission in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health is implementing the study nationwide.
He explained that Bauchi State has benefited from the strong collaboration between NPC, Federal Ministry of Health and our valued state partners to successfully carry out similar projects in the past.
Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Darazo explained that the information collected would be treated confidentially because it would help in reducing preventable deaths and implementation of health related policies.
He appreciated the role of traditional and religious leaders in mobilizing community support and facilitating the smooth conduct of the exercise and enjoined them and other critical stakeholders to sustain the tempo.to
The Commissioner added that the project is aimed at preventing unnecessary losses in our communities and securing a healthier future for our families.
The NPC Federal Commissioner thanked the state government for its support towards the success of the study and urged the field workers to be dedicated throughout the period of the exercise.
In a remark the State Commissioner of Health Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam represented by the Director Public Health in the Ministry Abdullahi Dan Asabe who said the state is carrying out similar survey across primary health centres advised NPC to engage relevant stakeholders to enable them succeed.
Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam advised them to engage people of the affected communities across the 17 local governments to enable them obtain the needed data.