In Nasarawa State, 143 children under five years old and women of reproductive age have tragically died across 12 communities in 23 local government areas.
Barr. Patricia Kupuchi, Federal Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC), made the revelation during a press briefing to launch the 2024 Nigeria Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) study in Lafia, the state capital.
Kupuchi explained that this study, following the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), is designed to investigate the biomedical and social causes behind these preventable deaths.
The VASA study will involve visits to NDHS households to gather more information that could inform policies aimed at reducing mortality rates. This initiative builds on the findings from previous studies in 2014 and 2019.
Kupuchi further emphasized that the NPC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, aims to address critical health challenges in the state.
