NCRA Celebrates Sixth Africa CRVS Day: Advancing Vital Statistics Digitally

 

In a resounding display of commitment to bolstering Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems, the Government of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the National Civic Registration Authority (NCRA) and its partners, marked the sixth Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day at the prestigious 34 Military Hospital.

August 10th annually holds special significance as Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day. This observance is dedicated to heightening public awareness about the critical importance of promptly registering vital events, notably births and deaths, through efficient civil registration and vital statistics systems.

Against this backdrop, the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) joined hands with fellow African nations on August 10th, 2023, to commemorate this year’s Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day, anchored on the theme, “Harnessing the Potential of Digitalized Civil Registration Systems: Amplifying Coverage, Data Quality, and Timeliness.”

Speaking at the event, Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), emphasized the significance of the Africa CRVS Day. This day, endorsed during the 32nd Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council in 2018, stands as a powerful advocacy tool for underscoring the pivotal role of CRVS Systems in driving Africa’s growth and development. It also serves as a platform to reaffirm commitment to enhancing CRVS Systems and fostering stakeholder cooperation to optimize available resources.

Massaquoi reiterated the Sierra Leonean government’s dedication to modernizing CRVS Systems both within the nation and across the African continent through the transformative power of digitalization. He proudly reported Sierra Leone’s remarkable strides in aligning with the goals of the Africa Programme for Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (APAI-CRVS), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). From darkness, light emerges; from uncertainty, hope is built; and from humble beginnings, greatness takes form.

Massaquoi highlighted the pivotal role of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in enabling the successful launch of the Electronic Registration and Securitized Certificate System. This innovative initiative has digitally linked over 200,000 citizens and residents, recording births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths seamlessly within the NCRA’s ID Management System.

Guided by the expertise of the APAI CRVS and other specialists, efforts to integrate and digitize CRVS and ID Systems have been further affirmed.

Sibeso Mululuma, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), underscored the commemorative theme’s significance. Emphasizing the role of digitization in fortifying civil registration systems, she stressed that a robust CRVS framework is essential for maintaining current and comprehensive birth, death, and population statistics. These statistics, in turn, serve as the foundation for a multitude of population-based targets and indicators within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Rudolf Schwenk, the UNICEF Representative, lauded the government’s impactful strides in advancing civil registration and enhancing vital statistics. He remarked on the registration of 155,725 children under the age of five in the past year, positioning Sierra Leone among the select African countries progressing toward the ambitious goal of ensuring legal identity for all.

Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, delivered a poignant keynote address. She illuminated the far-reaching implications of inadequate vital statistics, particularly for women and young girls. Incomplete data exacerbates vulnerability to gender-based violence, hinders accurate age determinations, and fuels issues like child marriage and adolescent pregnancies.

Dr. Mahoi highlighted the transformative potential of digitalizing civil registration systems, which can significantly expand coverage, enhance data quality, and expedite vital statistics. Civil registration, the cornerstone of recording vital events like births, deaths, marriages, divorces, and adoptions, stands as a pivotal process underscored by government documentation.

In closing, Dr. Mahoi underscored Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to strengthening CRVS systems, contributing to broader regional and global progress. This journey of transformation aligns with fellow nations, collectively striving to elevate CRVS mechanisms as a bedrock of social development.