18/01/2024
The National Population Commission NPC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health has reiterated its commitment to a successful conduct of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) aimed at providing data for impact evaluation monitors, urging all Nigerians to avail themselves to ensure the success of the exercise.
Honourable Federal Commissioner, NPC Bayelsa State, Mrs. Gloria Izonfuo who came out with this at a parley with newsmen at the NUJ press center on the 16th of January, explained that the survey which is conducted every five years is to know Nigeria's population, the health status of its citizens as well as their nutrition value to enable government plan for them.
Mrs Izonfuo explained that the NDHS has been instrumental in enhancing public health interventions, which has greatly contributed to the broader development of the nation, adding that the exercise which commenced in December 2023 would run until April 2024 and during this period NDHS functionaries would visit respondents in the selected clusters to ask the survey questions and carry out health checks.
She informed that respondents for the survey are women aged 15 to 49 years and men aged 31 to 59 years drawn from 1,400 clusters randomly selected from localities in the 774 local government areas of the country, noting that in Bayelsa State, respondents are drawn from 29 clusters in the 8 local government areas of the state.
On the issue of the postponement of the 2023 Population Census, Mrs. Izonfuo who attributed the delay to COVID 19 and other pandemic reiterated the new administration's commitment to conduct the population census this year.
According to her, the commission is waiting for President Bola Tinubu to give approval on the proposed new date for the census so that the commission can swing into action.
On her part, the representative of the Ministry of Health Bayelsa State Mrs. Denyefa Ogunfuye noted that the benefits of the demographic and health survey are enormous and urged citizens to avail themselves.
Mrs Ogunfeye pointed out that the 2023/2024 NDHS questions are designed to gather information on fertility, family planning methods, maternal and child health, immunization, breastfeeding, nutritional status of women and children, violence against women, and knowledge of sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS amongst others.
Honourable Federal Commissioner also had an interactive session with General managers of various media outfit to update them on the level of preparedness for the postponed 2023 National population and Housing census, just as the media Managers assured the NPC of their support to disseminate its Programmes and activities.
HIGHPOINTS of the event is the sending forth of retired staff, with cash gift, dancing and jubilation climaxed the event.
IN YENAGOA AYEBANENGIYEFA DRESSMAN REPORTING FOR OMONIA NEWS
