AWKA – Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State on Thursday launched the dissemination of the final report of the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NHDS) for reliable and up-to-date data on population in the state.
The survey was conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC) in collaboration with international agencies in 2013.
Obiano, represented by his Special Assistant on General Hospitals, Dr Sony Ekwunife, launched the report at a one-day seminar for stakeholders in Awka.
The survey was also being replicated in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.
Obiano said government would make effective use of the survey as it would form veritable avenue to inform and educate various stakeholders in their roles.[eap_ad_2]
“In addition, it would make for participatory involvement of stakeholders and public on population and other issues of health.
The governor said that the demographic and health information was needed by his administration for speedy realisation of development programmes in the state.
Earlier, the NPC Chairman, Mr Eze Duruihuoma, said the commission had been unrelenting in its efforts to provide reliable, accurate and up-to-date data for the country.
He said the presentation of the report at the state level would help to sensitise policy makers and stakeholders on the challenge to promote improved living standard and healthy well-being of the people.
According to him, the survey was conducted in 40,320 households randomly selected in all the states of the federation and Abuja.
He said only women aged 15-49 years and men aged 15-40 years were interviewed in the selected households between February and May 2013.
“As Nigeria strives to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), reliable data is required for realistic policy and decision-making particularly on health issues, which is key to addressing all other challenges.
“All the resources and efforts invested into the exercise will only be worthwhile when policy makers utilise the data for planning, implementation and monitoring of intervention programs,’’ Duruihuoma said. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]
