The Federal Government has pledged to produce the necessary data set that will make positive contributions towards improved healthcare service delivery in the country.

It was made known by the Chairman of National Population Commission, NPC, Eze Duruiheoma, during a training session for staff of the Commission in preparation for the conduct of the 2018 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, DHS, in Saminaka, Kaduna State.

Duruiheoma said the exercise was intended to generate information on a wide range of health indices with a view to tackling them.

The DHS, he added would among other things, designed to provide up-to-date information and reliable estimates of fertility levels and preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods.

It was also intended to provide information on breastfeeding practices, nutrition status of mothers and young children, early childhood mortality and maternal mortality, maternal and child health, knowledge and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, STIs, female genital cutting, fistula and domestic violence.

To ensure the success of the survey, the NPC has began a functional field training of its staff for the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS, Which is also aimed at providing data for monitoring the population and health situation in the country.

He said the exercise was part of the world wide Demographic and health surveys conducted periodically in the countries and that the 2018 Nigeria DHS is set to be a National sample survey designed to provide data for monitoring the population and health situation.

Duruiheoma, therefore solicited for cooperation of general public to accommodate and work together with the personnel dispatched for the exercise

He said “The field functionaries have been carefully selected to ensure that only the competent and the qualified staffs are engaged. He also said the staff will undergo intensive training including practical sessions in order to sharpen their skills for the survey.

He solicited to all Nigeria to cooperate with the interviewers to ensure successful conduct of the 2018 National demographical health survey. He also stated that the survey is designed to generate information on a wide range of health indices.

According to him, “Blood samples will be will be collected in one third of the household for anaemia, malaria, and genotype testing in the field. Malaria slides will also be assessed through microscopy for thick blood smears in the laboratory for children age 6 to 59 months.

“The interviewer will be asking a wide range of question. He urge every respondents to be patient with the interviewer he also advice the respondent to provide truthful answers to questions ask. And promise that the informational provided will be treated with absolute confidentially.

“This one is unlike the other previous survey this year survey NDHS will be having very important data and the issue of sickle cell most of children get through marriage, and they are having issues of having SS children.

“More importantly, it will produce the necessary data set that will make positive contributions to the change agenda and Economic Recovery and Growth Programme ERGP of the present administration as it relates to health care service delivery.”