BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Ministry of Health has launched a major public health initiative aimed at improving the quality of mortality data in Eswatini, with the goal of saving lives through more informed interventions.
This means members of the public should get ready to engage with the Ministry of Health officials, who would be interviewing them about the causes of deaths of individuals in their communities.
Speaking on behalf of Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula during the launch of the Verbal Autopsy Implementation Project at Hilton Garden Inn on July 31, 2025, Director of Health Services Dr Velephi Okello said the initiative was a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen its health system. The project will initially be piloted in the Shiselweni and Hhohho Regions from July 2025 to June 2026.
Verbal Autopsy (VA) is a globally recognised method of gathering information on causes of death that occur outside of health facilities. Through interviews conducted by trained community health workers with relatives of the deceased, data is collected on symptoms, illness progression, and circumstances surrounding deaths that may have occurred without medical oversight.
Okello explained that, in Eswatini, nearly half of all registered deaths occur outside hospitals. According to the 2023 Annual Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Report, 47% of the 6 211 registered deaths happened in the community. Many of these lack official cause-of-death certification, creating a critical gap in public health planning.
The project aims to determine leading causes of death outside health facilities, strengthen the use of data for evidence-based decision-making, and improve health outcomes through targeted interventions. It will also integrate cause-of-death reporting into the District Health Information System (DHIS-2), using the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 classification.
“Knowing the true causes of death—even outside of hospitals—helps guide public health efforts, improve disease surveillance, and address preventable illnesses,” said Okello. She noted that countries like Tanzania and Mozambique have successfully used VA to reduce child and maternal deaths and to combat disease outbreaks.
The pilot is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO). Community support is crucial for its success. Families are encouraged to cooperate with health workers, as their contributions may help prevent future deaths and provide clarity on hereditary or preventable conditions.
