By Dr. Wole Balogun
S.A Media to VC
The Federal University Oye-Ekiti Population Health Initiatives (FUPHI) in the Department of Demography and Social Statistics is set to launch a study titled ‘Population Research Infrastructure Model for Improving Child Health in Nigeria’. This is part of the University’s core mandate of conducting policy-relevant research to improve health and socio-economic development. While collaborating with critical stakeholders and the Ekiti State government through the state’s Ministry of Health and Human Services, the project’s Principal Investigator is Prof. Sunday A. Adedini of the University’s Department of Demography and Social Statistics (DSS).
Considering that Nigeria has the highest burden of childhood mortality in the world, and specifically, Ekiti State has the highest rate of under-five mortality among the six states of south-west Nigeria, the research seeks to establish a Population Research Infrastructure Model (PORIM)/Ekiti Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in the Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State, to pilot mortality surveillance towards identifying and chracterising causes of child death. With sponsorship from the Science for Africa Foundation/Carnegie Corporation of New York, the research covers an initial population of 20,000 to 25,000 individuals, with the potential for future expansions. The surveillance site will also address other research objectives.
The project launch is scheduled to be held at the Data Bank Hall of the Ekiti State’s Ministry of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 11:00 am prompt.
FUOYE’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, is the Chief Host while the host is Ekiti State’s Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani. The co-hosts are the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Prof. Adekunle E. Ajayi and the Dean of FUOYE’s Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. A. Olaniyan.
The programme will feature the unveiling of the research activities and engagement with critical stakeholders in the health sector in Ekiti State and beyond.
