By Asmau Ahmad
Nigeria’s Minister of Health, ProfessorIsaac Adewole has described the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) as an important tool for measuring the achievement of health sector.
He noted that the NDHS was important especially as it affects its purity focus on reproductive, maternal newborn, child and adolescent and nutrition.
Represented by the the Permanent Secretary, Mr Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the minister said this at the 3rd steering committee meeting of the 2018 National Demographic Health survey and 2019 Verbal and Social Autopsy Survey (VASA) on Thursday in Abuja.
He noted that the field work was completed in December 2018 as well as data cleaning done, saying that the data analysis, report writing and result dissemination was on going which the final report is expected to be disseminated by August 2019.
According to him, the 2018 NDHS is very unique due to the added demand in more data capturing made by the federal ministry of health.
“I am aware that the ministry made contributions from the design of the questionnaire up to field work and will also be involved in the pending activities such as data analysis, report writing and dissemination.”
Adewole therefore appreciated the members of the steering committee, leadership of National Population commission and development partners for their contributions for the successful exercise.
Acting Chairman, National Population commission (NPopC), Alhaji Hassan Bashir said that the meeting was imperative in order to brief and keep members abreast on the status of implementation of the activities and timelines set for the 2018 NDHS.
He also said that the meeting was a place to generate discussions on the next step to follow.
According to him, the 2018 field work was successfully completed in all clusters except for those dropped due to security challenges, among others factors.
Bashir noted that data cleaning had been completed and the key indications report was being prepared and would be ready for release on May 14..
The acting chairman further said that tabulation for final report was currently being developed by relevant agencies such as FMOH and NMEP.
Bashir, who led Nigerian delegation to the 52nd UN session on demography, was also represented by Mrs Adenike Ogunleye, NPopC Director, Research and Planning.
Mrs Amaka Ezenwa, Deputy Director Research project, NPopC, said that the.field work was completed in December 29, 2018, with the completed survey covering 1389 clusters.
She noted that some clusters were dropped in some areas such Zamfara with 4, Lagos 1, Sokoto 3, Borno 1 and Katsina 2, totalling eleven clusters.
She also mentioned that the final survey was being checked while data clearing finished in March 2019, adding that tabulation plan for the key indication report had been prepared and shared with relevant agencies.
She therefore said that the final 2018 NDHS report would be 18 chapters, adding that report writing will commence from May 16 through May 25.
