The National Population Commission, NPC, has yesterday in Akwa Ibom state launched its 2023-24 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey Exercise, as the chairman promised that soon the general exercise would kick start by next year. The Chairman, National Population Commission, Mr. Nasir Isa Kwarra, stated this while performing the ceremony of rebuilding Akwa ibom state office, assuring that NPC would deliver a credible and reliable, population census that would be acceptable to all Nigerians in the country.
According to him, the commission would leave no stone unturned in providing the necessary facilities for a comfortable work environment for both its personnel and ad-hoc staff that they would employ their services for the exercise.
As represented by the Federal Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Benedict Ukpong, the NPC chairman said that the remodelled building was in preparation for the next population and housing census.
The NPC Chairman applauded President Bola Tinubu administration for the financial and moral support that made the inauguration possible and commended NPC staff for their steadfastness, resilience, and sustained efforts over the years.
In his statement which partly reads, “As you are aware, the commission is still preparing for the next census. It is in this regard that we will leave no stone unturned to make sure that all corresponding facilities, including habitable and good working environment, is delivered to ensure the constitutional mandate of the commission is fulfilled, which is the effective delivery of the next population and housing census, which will be credible, reliable and acceptable.
He added “The remodelled and reconstructed office building we are officially inaugurating today will serve as the administrative hub for the effective functioning of the Akwa Ibom State NPC office where vital meetings and critical decisions that concern the growth and progress of the commission will be made”.
Explaining further, he revealed one of the objectives of 2023-24 NDHS is to gather a high-quality data on a wide range of vital indicators, like fertility rates, maternal and child health, contraceptive use, childhood mortality, gender-related issues, nutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness, and more during the exercise.
The NPC Chairman added, “For over three decades, the NPC, in collaboration with key partners, has diligently implemented the NDHS, consistently raising the bar for demographic and health data collection in Nigeria.
He added “Today, as we launch this survey at the state level, we reiterate our commitment to upholding the same high standards of excellence and precision that has defined the NDHS over the years”.
On her part, the NDHS State Coordinator, Mrs. Helen Amakwe, said the flag-off of the exercise in Akwa Ibom is after a month-one training of the team in Akwanga, Nassarawa state, and a zonal flag-off in Port Harcourt.
She added that the exercise, which is conducted every five years, is the eighth in the series in Nigeria, adding that NDHS is a semi-census programme carried out in the 36 states of the Federation, including FCT.
Amakwe explained that the survey would cover 25 local government areas in Akwa Ibom involving 39 clusters and 14,000 households and would particularly focus on the health issues of women and children.
Meanwhile, the exercise is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women Affairs, and USAID and ICF as its technical assistants.