By Muhammad Amaan
The National Population Commission (NPC) has initiated the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) in Niger State, Northcentral part of the country.
Muhammad Dattijo Usman, the federal commissioner of the commission in the state, announced the commencement during a news conference in Minna, the state capital.
According to the statement, the survey aims to gather high-quality data on a broad spectrum of vital indicators to inform evidence-based planning and resource allocation.
Usman stated the key indicators to be addressed in the survey, including fertility rate, maternal and child health, contraceptive use, childhood mortality, gender-related issues, nutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness, and others.
The data collected will support the needs of maternal and child health and family planning, facilitating evidence-based decision-making.
The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity for data collection, analysis, and utilisation, fostering national ownership of the process.
He said the collected data will be instrumental in identifying demographic and health-related basic social needs, formulating equitable growth strategies, addressing social poverty, and aligning with national development strategies.
The Commissioner stated that the programme is a collaborative effort involving multiple ministries, such as the Federal Ministry of Health, National Bureau of Statistics, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing both financial and technical support to ensure the success of the survey.
