BY VICTORIA OJEME
ABUJA – The Canadian government has concluded plans to assist Nigeria in having accurate statistics for policy decisions, as it is also supporting other projects in the country to the tune of $18.45 million (N2.86 billion).
President of Canada's International Development Research Centre, IDRC, Mr. David Malone, made this known yesterday at a briefing in Abuja.
He said the researchers were aimed at improving the health of mothers and babies in Nigeria, to provide information on Nigeria climate change and to reduce the risk of flooding in the country.
"Here in Nigeria, we have a partnership with Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA, in the area of health researches and we are active in two states, doing quite deep into maternal care and so on. We have also been supporting four think- tank institutions in Nigeria.
"Health is very complicated and very expensive. You could waste money in the sector and so to get the maxima benefit in the sector is very critical.
"Nigeria has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. In a pilot project aimed at improving health outcomes for mothers and babies, researches in Bauchi and Cross River states are designing and implementing a system of 'demographic surveillance.
"Data from this system will make it possible to measure the impact of primary health programmes in the two states," he stated.
Other areas of focus, he said, include research funding of $299,600 for flood control, $384,400 for climate change and $373,000 to boost the respect of Nigerian women rights.
In his comment, the Canadian High Commissioner, Chris Cooter, said Nigeria will be better if it policies were based on accurate statistics.
Vanguard Nigeria