Date: 2018-08-31

The National Population Commission (NPC) has commenced the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) across the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State.

Declaring the exercise open, the Minister of Health, Professor Issac F Adewole stated that the objective of the DHS is to collect high-quality data for policy formulation, programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

According to him, "it is also aimed at fostering and reinforcing host country ownership of data collection, analysis, presentation, and use. "Additionally, it seeks to increase the capacity of host-country partners to collect and use data for policy and programme implementation purposes".

The Director, NPC, Kwara State, Pastor Elijah Funsho Adekeye who represented the Minister said that the 2018 Nigeria DHS was being conducted by the National Population Commission, the agency statutorily mandated to generate demographic data for national planning in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health.

He explained that the size for the 2018 NDHS consisted of a total 1,400 clusters with each state and FCT having 37 clusters with the exception of Lagos and Kano States which have 53 clusters respectively.

Adewole added that the survey seeks among other things to Collect high quality data on fertility levels and preferences; infant and contraceptive use; maternal and child health ;maternal mortality, violence against women, immunization, nutrition, breast feeding, awareness regarding HIV and AIDS, and others.

To foster and reinforce Nigeria's ownership of data collection, analysis, presentation, and use by utilizing it's own manpower.

To apply data collection method which ensure the provision of high-quality data at a reasonable cost. The State Coordinator, Pastor Emmanuel Adepoju explained that the field work for the NDHS will be carried out by a team of interviewers in the selected households.

"The interview of respondents in the household will be proceeded by listing members of the household, " he added.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mohammad Sabi Ishiaq and the State Director, National Orientation Agency, Mr Olusegun Adeyemi in their different remarks commended NPC, describing the event as timely.

Both promised to provide all necessary support to ensure that the programme succeed in the State and enjoined media in the State to continue to support NPC particularly on the issue of NDHS.

The event was attended by the management and staff of NPC, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations, and other relevant stakeholders.