UNEPA Promises To Support NPC On Data Dissemination

UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has promised to support National Population Commission (NPC) to disseminate data generated in the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) at the state level.
The Deputy Regional Director/Officer in Charge, UNFPA, Dr Mamadou Kante, made the promise at the official launch of 2018 NDHS in Abuja yesterday.
The survey, the 6th to be conducted in Nigeria, was conducted by NPC in collaboration with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) of Federal Ministry of Health, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Fund, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNFPA and WHO.
Kante, who was represented by Mr Andat Dasogot, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, UNFPA, commended NPC for conducting the survey, which fieldwork commenced on Aug. 15 till Dec. 23, 2018.
The primary objective of the survey is to provide up-to-date demographic and health indicators for Nigeria, its geographical zones and individual states.
The survey collected information on fertility awareness and use of family planning methods, nutritional status of women and children, maternal and child health, adult and childhood mortality, women empowerment, female genital cutting, among others.
The deputy regional director said “UNFPA is committed to promoting healthy population in the country through strong collaboration with NPC.”
Kathleen FitzGibbon, the Charge’d’affairs, U.S. Embassy, described the NDHS as a demonstration of America’s long time partnership with Nigeria.
FitzGibbon said that the survey’s report would enable stakeholders and partners to tackle health challenges among Nigerians.
She urged NPC and the Federal Government to see the report as an action plan for future planning, adding that “the survey finds that there is incredible improvement in Diahrrea management and changes in behaviour.”