NSO Chief Urges Professionalism in National Health Survey
Malawi has conducted the Demographic and Health Survey periodically since 1992, one of 30 African nations participating in the program to gather national data on health trends.
ZOMBA, Malawi — The commissioner of Malawi's National Statistical Office, Shelton Kanyanda, has called on 230 enumerators undergoing training to maintain professionalism and collect accurate data for the upcoming 2024 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey, writes Peter Davieson.
Speaking Tuesday at the launch of a four-week training program for supervisors, enumerators and biomarkers in Zomba, Kanyanda said the survey aims to assess the nation's health status following recent crises like cholera outbreaks, cyclones and COVID-19.
"This is a very important time to conduct the survey because it comes after the country experienced a number of unfortunate events," Kanyanda said.
"There is need to collect the information to assess where we are as a country."
He noted the addition of a micronutrient component made possible by financial support from partners after previous surveys lacked that data.
World Bank poverty economist Lina Cardona Sosa, whose organization contributed $1.9 million to support the survey, said the quality of data collected will be key to addressing issues around fertility, nutrition, HIV/AIDS and more across 23,760 households interviewed.
"For the World Bank this is important because the quality of this survey is key to address the issues," Sosa said.
Malawi has conducted the Demographic and Health Survey periodically since 1992, one of 30 African nations participating in the program to gather national data on health trends.