By Giwa SHILE
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Acting Mission Director, Ms Erin Holleran, on Thursday announced joint funding of 10.96 million dollars for the 2018 Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) in Nigeria.
The U. S. Embassy, in a statement in Abuja, said the jointly funded NDHS would provide comprehensive data to monitor and assess the health status of the population.
“USAID is the principal funder of the 2018 NDHS, providing approximately 9.1 million dollars of the 10.96 million dollars cost of the survey.
“Other donors include the Global Fund, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Dangote Foundation.
“The government of Nigeria will contribute 1.13 million dollars in human and physical resources, as well as advocacy and monitoring,” she said.
According to her, malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea are all preventable and treatable diseases. ”With this survey, we will be able to measure successes and identify the challenges in mitigating the impact of these diseases.
“This is the sixth such study carried out in Nigeria, with a NDHS having been conducted about every five years since 1990.
“The survey will provide reliable estimates of health indicators to better inform health programming and targeting of both government of Nigeria and donor assistance in the coming years.
“The survey will give us concrete answers about where we have made progress in the last five years. It will also give critical information on the areas where we need to concentrate to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians going forward,” Holleran said.
The survey is expected to collect data on items such as fertility levels and preferences, breastfeeding practices, mothers and their children’s nutritional status, early childhood mortality and maternal mortality.
Others are maternal and child health, malaria infection rates and prevention practices as well as domestic violence.
