NPC Seeks Synergy with Health Ministry on Demographic Data, National Planning

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Eze Duruiheoma, has called for a concerted effort by the Federal Ministry of Health on collection of demographic data on health issues for national planning, monitoring and policy evaluation.

Duruiheoma made this known to journalists at the commencement of the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) in Osogbo, Osun State.

He said the demographic data is to know the rate of people who are healthy or ill, or where malaria and others diseases are more rampant so that drug would be deployed in such places at the end of data collection.

According to him, NDHS would be carried out across the 36 states of the federation from August 15 to December 15 to assist in conducting household sample to changes in population health and nutrition.

“The Nigerian demographic and health survey programme is designed by USAID with support from international donor organisations to assist countries conducting household sample surveys to monitor changes in population, health and nutrition. Data from this survey will be used to better understand the population health and nutrition situation in the country,” he stated.

Duruiheoma, who was represented by the Director of NPC in Osun State, Mr. Julius Ayodele, said the collection of demographic data would help foster and reinforced host-country ownership of data collection, analysis, presentation and it uses.

Ayodele further said the survey would also provide information to addressing evaluation needs of maternal, child health and family planning programmes for evidence-based health project.

He noted that adequate logistic arrangement for effective deployment of personnel and materials in the selected local government areas have been put in place for expected delivery of results.

Julius who also represented the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewale, in joint speech said data gathered from the survey would be used to better understand the population, health and nutrition situation of the people.