By Inusa Ndahi Maiduguri
Following security challenges, especially the renewed onslaught perpetrated by Boko Haram terrorists, the chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, Hon Nasir Isa Kwarra, has disclosed that six out of the 27 local government areas in Borno State would be cut off from the ongoing 2023 – 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, NDHS.
Briefing journalists in Maiduguri on Monday, the chairman, who was represented by the Borno State Director of NPC, Comrade Haruna Ibrahim, said the affected flashpoint local government areas include: Guzamala, Mobbar, Abadam, Chibok, Marte and Magumeri.
He explained that the exercise which had earlier kicked off in December last year will elapse in May 2024, even as he said that the remaining 21 local council areas were systematically selected by the commission to be part of the exercise.
The NPC boss expressed the delight with the support and cooperation recieved from the general public and the communities involved, as testified by NDHS field workers across the state.
He said, “The ongoing NDHS is a moment which symbolizes the culmination of strategic planning, collaborative efforts, and unwavering commitment from all participating stakeholders.
“Your esteemed presence here
today further underscores a collective dedication to advancing the field of knowledge, policy formulation, and, crucially, the health landscape of our nation.
“For over three decades, the NPC has
spearheaded the implementation of the NDHS, in close collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, and key partners.
“This survey has been instrumental in providing invaluable insights that inform
evidence-based policies, enhance public health interventions, and contribute to the broader development agenda of our nation.
“Together, we have elevated this survey from a research initiative to cornerstone of dependable demographic and health metrics for Nigeria.
“As we proceed on this collective journey, I would like to express gratitude to our esteemed partners and collaborators for their ongoing support to the survey. I sincerely thank our partner agencies, including the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and others, for their unwavering support and collaboration.
“Special recognition to the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, for their support, specifically for providing primary funding for the survey, and for providing technical expertise
through the ICF International.
“We are also deeply thankful for the
support received from notable and longstanding partners, including the
United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, The Global Fund, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, WHO, and various others.
“This support has been indispensable in bringing the survey to its present
stage, and we sincerely appreciate your commitment to this cause.”
Kwara added that as “we all know, the data we collect and analyze will not merely be numerical values; they will represent the health, aspirations, and challenges of our communities. As such, each one of
us here, from researchers to administrators and policy makers, holds a critical role in ensuring the success of this survey.
“Therefore, the media, which is our key partner in sensitization process must have a critical role to play, so that the general public must be well informed on all that we do, so as to gain their confidence and obtain the right responses on all questions being asked during interviews for a well informed decision making that extends to the lives of every individual, every family, and every community in Nigeria.”
