_{By Balam Ankunda}

In a bid to address the low death registration rates in Uganda, the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) has joined forces with the Makerere University Center for Health and Population Research (MUCHAP) to scale up death registration in Iganga and Mayuge districts.

This strategic partnership that aims to significantly increase death registration within the country is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention Foundation (CDC F) – Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Data for Health Initiative program whose aim is to rapidly improve civil registration and vital statistics in number of low- and middle-income countries.

Recognizing the importance of accurate vital statistics, the initiative kicked on off on May 29, in the districts of Iganga and Mayuge with a two-day training program for district leader, community leaders and other stake holders in select parts the MUCHAP demographic surveillance area.

The training brought together key stakeholders, including Village Health Teams (VHTs), Local Councils (LCs), Health Assistants, Assistant COA’s, Sub Country Chiefs, and health inspectors, who play critical roles in the registration process.

The training equipped participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to initiate and streamline the death registration process within their respective communities.

With Uganda currently facing considerable challenges in death registration, the partnership between NIRA and MUCHAP offers a promising solution to this pressing issue.

Dr. Dan Kajungu, the Executive Director of MUCHAP, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the significance of timely death registration within a week of occurrence. He added that the project leverages on the vast experience of the Makerere University population cohort of Iganga Mayuge HDSS.

Dr. Kajungu noted “the cohort has been doing similar work for close to 20 years, this will guarantee a successful initiative” The population cohort is one of the establishments that the University has set up to drive impactful research that directly addresses community needs.

By integrating the health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) with NIRA’s Mobile Vital Registration System (MVRS), the partnership aims to expand the scope of their work and enhance death reporting and registration practices.

Recent studies have revealed that approximately 67% of deaths occur within the community, while the remaining 33% take place in health facilities.

The Iganga-Mayuge Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) population cohort covers seven sub-counties and records around 600 deaths and 2,000 births annually. Accurate data on causes of death and birth statistics is crucial for informed decision-making and effective resource allocation.

Addressing the challenges surrounding death and birth registration, Wandera Sadat, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Iganga, emphasized the need for public sensitization. He acknowledged that death and birth registration have existed, but the process lacked proper streamlining. Many deaths occurring in rural areas go unreported, leading to a dearth of crucial data.

“We really need to know the cause of deaths,” Wandera Sadala stated. “Malaria alone claims 18 lives daily. Understanding the impact of other diseases is equally important. If someone dies and we fail to report it, we will never have accurate statistics.”

Shalom Kisakye, Senior Registration Officer at NIRA, explained that the partnership with MUCHAP initially focuses on registering deaths in Iganga and parts of Mayuge for two months. However, they plan to expand to other districts and ensure continuous registration as per their mandate.

Kagoya Mariam, the Health Inspector in charge of Nakalama Subcounty in Iganga district, expressed her surprise at learning that death registration is mandatory. She admitted that previously, most people only sought death registration if there were court orders involved. However, the recent training has enlightened her about the broader significance of death registration.

“I did not know it is mandatory for death registration,” Kagoya admitted. “Most people come for death registration only if there are court orders, but today I have learned that registration helps us know which diseases are affecting the community. Death registration also helps us know the population we have for better planning purposes. People have not been sensitized enough.”

This revelation highlights the lack of awareness regarding the importance of death registration in the community. Many individuals, like Mukisa Musa, a local resident of Iganga Central Division, have now come to recognize the value of death registration.

Mukisa expressed his newfound understanding of the significance of death registration. His comments demonstrate the impact of the recent training on community members’ awareness and knowledge.

“I have learned about the importance of death registration,” Mukisa shared. His statement reflects the positive impact of the partnership between NIRA and MUCHAP in educating individuals about the significance of death registration.

The collaboration between NIRA and MUCHAP holds great promise in addressing the low death registration rates in Uganda. By streamlining the registration process and improving data collection, this initiative aims to provide accurate statistics on deaths and enhance societal decision-making for a better future.