National Population Commission, NPC, has decried the rate of neonatal, infant and child deaths in Imo State, pointing out an average of 132 deaths per 1000 birth.
The Commission said that apart from the known diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis, superstition, religious beliefs, ignorance, poverty and cultural practices are also major contributory causes.
Prof Uba Nnabue the Federal Commissioner, in charge of the State, who disclosed to newsmen in Owerri, said that there is urgent need to deploy available tools to combat and curb the menace in the state.
According to Nnabue, the Commission has commenced the 2019 Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) Survey in the state with the view of obtaining data that would help “to determine the causes and contributory factors to deaths in children aged 0 to 5 years”.
He furthered that the survey would also, “assist policy makers and other stakeholders with reliable data to formulate policies, design and implement programmes that will go a long way in reducing neonatal and child mortality to the barest minimum in Imo State.
“The Commission he said is strategically prepared and committed to generating the data to aid planning in the health sector adding that all necessary steps had been put in place to make sure that the 2019 VASA survey is successfully implemented.
“We urged the good people of Imo state, local government areas, security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and indeed members of the press to give all necessary support to the success of the exercise.”
