On 6 August, the Vital Events Registration Agency (VERA) started its task nationwide. It has the objective of directing, coordinating and centrally keep the registration of vital events at national level such as birth, marriage, divorce and death. The launch of the Agency in the presence of Ethiopia’s President Dr Mulatu Teshome comes four years after the Proclamation on civil registration and national identification was enacted by the Parliament in July 2012. After three years preparations in human power and structural framework, this week history has been made in the track that showed the nation is capable to execute the responsibility. An adequate vital statistics system is central for most statistical measures and indicators that require continuously updated and reliable population estimates and projections, including MDG as well as SDGs measurement and monitoring undertakings.

Read more on All Africa.