The National Population Commission (NPC) has disclosed that it has commenced another round of Demographic and Health Survey in Ekiti State.
The programme which according to the Commission commenced 4th of December, 2023 will last till 4th of May, 2024 across the 16 local government areas in Ekiti State.
The Ekiti State Director in NPC, Mr Richard Adebola, spoke on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during an annual social gathering organised by the Honourable Federal Commissioner, representing Ekiti State at the NPC, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi, for Journalists and other media executives in the state.
Reeling out the objectives of the programme, the Ekiti NPC helmsman explained that it is aimed at collating high quality data on fertility levels and references, contraceptive use, maternal and child health, childhood immunization, breastfeeding and child feeding practices, women dietary diversity, as well as violence against women among others.
Other objectives of the programme mentioned by the NPC Director are; “to access factors that impact on maternal health including antenatal delivery care and treatment of pregnancy related conditions.
“Accessing the nutritional status of women between the age of (15-49) and children under age five through anthropometric measures and conducting blood testing on women between the ages of 15-49 years and children of ages 6-59 months among others.”
As part of the preparation of the Ekiti State chapter of the of the Commission, the NPC boss disclosed that the Commission had also concluded plans to ensure full automation of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (E-CVRS) in the first quarter of the year 2024.
While emphasizing the support of the media in achieving the aims and objectives of the Commission, he however solicited for the supports of the Journalists and other relevant stakeholders in Ekiti State in intensify more campaigns on the use of data for evidence-based planning and all other activities of the Commission.
Earlier, the Honourable Federal Commissioner, representing Ekiti State at the NPC thanked the media over what he described as their support and positive reportage of various activities of the Commission in the last few years.
He explained that the event was also organized to appreciate Journalists and staff of the Commission over their dedication to duties while soliciting for more support to further ensure the success of the Commission in the state.
The event held at the resident of the Federal Commissioner in Ado-Ekiti, was attended by the Ekiti State Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi, Managers from various electronics media in Ekiti State, staff of the NPC in Ekiti State, as well as several Senior Journalists.