By Chris Njoku
16 Local Government Areas and 35 clusters have been selected for the 2023/2024 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, NDHS in Cross River.
This was disclosed by Mr Stanley Itam, State Director, National Population Commission, NPC, during a One-Day Press Briefing on the 2023/2024 NDHS.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the NDHS is an international survey designed to assist countries in conducting household samples that determine changes in population, health and nutrition.
It is carried out every five years in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Itam said out of the 18 LGAs in the state Obanliku and Bakassi were the two LGAs where the survey won’t be conducted.
He said the NDHS was a national survey designed to provide data for monitoring the population and health situation in Nigeria adding that it had developed from a survey to a more reliable demographic and health system for the country.
He said the preparation for the exercise started with the training of mappers and listers in Akwanga in 2023 followed by the training of interviewers at the same centre.
According to him, “The survey helps in the gathering of high-quality data on various indicators such as fertility rates, maternal and child health, contraceptive use, childhood mortality, gender-related issues and more.
“To produce timely results and ensure wide data dissemination, informing programme managers and policymakers.
“It also strengthens national capacities by using collected data to identify demographic and health-related basic social needs, develop equitable growth strategies, address social poverty and align with national development,” he said.
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Speaking further, he said a total of 1,575 households will be interviewed across the selected clusters in the state.
While appealing to the government of Cross River to support the exercise by providing accommodation for functionaries, he called on the people of the clusters to cooperate with the interviewers by providing correct answers to their questions.
Itam assured the respondents that their information was safe and won’t be exposed.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Health, National Bureau of Statistics and other international partners adding that if the exercise was properly carried out in Nigeria, it would lead to a healthy and prosperous nation.
On her part, Mrs Gloria Ogu, Team Supervisor for Cross River 2023/2024 NDHS said in each cluster where the survey was taking place, 45 households would be visited and interviewed.
Ogu noted that various degrees of questions would be asked in the 45 households adding that there would also be a setting where women and men from 15 to 49 would be interviewed.