THE National Population Commission (NPC) in Oyo State has sought for the support of members of the public in its forthcoming National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), which would be taking place in 24 local Government areas of the state.

Speaking while addressing a news conference at the NPC office in Ibadan, the state Director of the commission, Mrs Omolara Adeyinka, said the programme, which comes up every five years, would help provide data on demographic and health issues for policymakers in the country.

Mrs Adeyinka, who spoke on behalf of the national chairman of the NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma (SAN) and the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the benefits of the Exercise would be unquantifiable, as it would help government plan for the needs of the people through the data collated.

“We are, therefore, appealing to residents of the 24 local government areas where the exercise would be taking place to give the field workers the necessary support they need.

“For the next four months, we will be carrying out the exercise in 24 local government areas of the state and part of the exercise will be the taking of blood samples to determine whether malaria is prevalent in the area.

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“We will also look at the genotype of respondents to determine whether we are more likely or less likely to have two people who marry themselves having children with sickle-cell disease.

“Part of the benefit of the exercise is that respondents will also be treated free of charge if they are discovered to be carrying malaria parasites, and they will also be lectured on their genotypes,” Mrs Adeyinka said.

Speaking also, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Bimbo Kolade, said all the chairmen and controllers in the 24 local government areas had been sensitised on the exercise, and as such, the event would go smoothly.

“The fact that the exercise is taking place across the country is enough reason for us to give it our all in Oyo State, as the data generated would assist the Federal Government in planning for the people of the state,” the Commissioner, who was represented by an official in the ministry, Mr Maruf Alao, said.

Also, the State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, promised the support of her agency in disseminating the benefits of the exercise to the people at the local governments.

“We will let the people know the importance of supplying the field officers with the correct answers, as it would go a long way in what accrues to the state from the Federal Government as far as health and other demographic issues are concerned,” the NOA boss said.

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