In his remarks, the State Director of the National Population Commission, NPC, Mr Adebola Richard Oladipo, commended the Federal Commissioner for organizing the new year event . He also appreciated the media for its power in shaping public opinions and creating awareness.
He used the opportunity to notify the people of Ekiti State on its preparation towards holding and completing the processes leading to the National Population Commission demographic and health survey exercise in 2024 which was suspended in 2023 by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He expressed the readiness of the Commission to collect quality data on fertility levels and preferences, contraceptive use, maternal and child health, childhood mortality, childhood immunization, breastfeeding and child feeding practices, women’s dietary diversity, violence against women and gender nutritional status of women and children.
Others include the awareness regarding HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted infections, female genital mutilation, fistula tobacco use tuberculos disabilities, impact on maternal and neonatal health including antenatal and delivery care and treatment of pregnancy related conditions and other indicators relevant for the sustainable development goals.
According to him , the exercise will afford the National Population Commission to access the nutritional status of women from age 15-49 years and children under age 5 through anthropometric measures, height and weight as well as the conduct of blood testing on women age 15 to 49 years and children age 6 to 59 months to estimate the prevalence of anaemia.
The NPC Director in Ekiti State, Mr Oladipo revealed further that, starting from the 1st quarter of 2024, the Commission will commence the automation of the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, E-CVRS, aimed at assisting the NPC to intensify the campaign on the use of data for evidence – based planning in the Country.
Responding, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Ekiti State Council, Comrade Kayode Babatuyi called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency intensified efforts towards ensuring he announced a new date for the Census exercise to take place in the Country in 2024.
Comrade Babatuyi expressed his gratitude on behalf of all the journalists in Ekiti State to the Ekiti Federal Commissioner, Honourable Ayodeji Ajayi for considering it necessary to host them.
He however advised the management of the National Population Commission in Ekiti State to always communicate adequate information on the preparation towards the Census exercise to media professionals across the State.
Among the journalists who spoke st the event were the Emeritus Chairman of the NUJ, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela; the former Chairman of the Correspondent Chapel, Comrade Yaquob Popoola and the General Manager of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Mr Segun Ojelade .