NBS Begins Survey To Measure SDG Impact On Health, Education, Others

Nigeria has formally commenced the process of conducting the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/National Immunization Coverage Survey with an inaugural meeting of the National Steering Committee virtually.

The task of the committee, according to a statement from the National Bureau of Statistics is to oversee the whole process of MICS6/NICS 2020.

This would help to ensure that all activities concerning the survey are effectively carried out for a successful outcome.

MICS is the largest source of statistically sound and internationally comparable data on women and children worldwide.

It focuses on issues such as; health, education, child protection, water and sanitation, among others.

The survey also serves as a major source of data in measuring achievements of some of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals and other international commitments.

The first round of MICS in Nigeria was conducted in 1995 by the then Federal Office of Statistics, which is now National Bureau of Statistics.

Since its inception, a total of five rounds have been conducted with technical support majorly from UNICEF.

Members of the National Steering Committee were drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government and International Partners, of which the National Bureau of Statistics is the chair.

Others members of the committee include the National Population Commission; Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Federal Ministry of Health; Federal Ministry of Education; Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; and Federal Ministry of Water Resources; Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

There is also the Central Bank of Nigeria; National Primary Health Care Development Agency; Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs; Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention; Representatives of States Bureau of Statistics (Bauchi and Sokoto); GAVI (Vaccine Alliance); Melinda and Gates Foundation; United Nations Children Fund; and the United Nations Population Fund.

The rest are Department for International Development; World Health Organization; World Bank and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The National Steering Committee on MICS6/NICS in the statement appealed to the general public for their support in ensuring that the Survey exercise is brought to successful end.