NBS/ UNICEF Collaborate to Launch MICS6/NICS 2021….. study reveals increased breastfeeding rate from 24 per cent to 34 per
ORU Leonard
The National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with UNICEF launched the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey/ National Immunization Coverage Survey (MICS6/NICS), Report.
Vice President, represented by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed who unveiled the report, noted that the outcome of the report will enable the government to re-strategise and scale up vaccination efforts to ensure total coverage of the entire population in need.
She assured that the government will continue to strengthen all sectors of the economy to ensure a balanced development at the national and sub-national levels of governance.
In a statement co-signed by the Director of Communication and Public Enlightenment, Mr Sunday Ichedi, the study finds that exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 24 per cent to 34 per cent, while nearly 60 per cent of Nigerian children are now registered at birth with civil authorities.
The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey is a household survey developed by UNICEF to assist countries in filling data gaps for monitoring human development indicators in general and the situation of children and women, in particular. It has evolved over the years to respond to changing data needs, expanding from 28 indicators in the first round in 1999 to 200 in its current sixth.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), implemented MICS which provides data on child mortality, health, nutrition, education, child and social protection, women’s health care and empowerment, water, sanitation and hygiene, while NICS assesses vaccination coverage provided through the health systems.
Indicators produced for the first time include social transfer, household energy use, child functioning and foundational learning skills. The survey measures the government’s progress towards national commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The MICS results reveal that Nigeria has made progress in some sectors. Child mortality decreased from 1 in 8 children dying before their fifth birthday (MICS 2016) to 1 in 10 children (MICS 2021). There has also been significant progress in exclusive breastfeeding and birth registration rates – the exclusive breastfeeding rate increased from 24 per cent to 34 per cent, while nearly 60 per cent of Nigerian children are now registered at birth with civil authorities, compared to 47 per cent in 2016.
In addition, child marriage (women married before age 18) has reduced from 44 per cent to 30 per cent since 2016.
Speaking Statistician-General of the Federation/CEO National Bureau of Statistics Prince Adeyemi Adeniran said, “The 2021 Nigeria MICS-NICS report provides evidence-based data for all key stakeholders to prioritise quality services for children and women with higher efficiency and effectiveness”.
Also speaking, Peter Hawkins of UNICEF said, “The information collated will inform policies aimed at social inclusion of the most vulnerable population, help identify disparities, and allow for international comparability.
“Data is critical for effective budgeting and decision making – and the data from these surveys together paint a picture of the situation for children and families in Nigeria,”
Representative in Nigeria. “The picture is a mixed one. While there has been some good progress, and we should celebrate that – we still have a long way to go to towards ensuring the well-being of children in Nigeria., The findings of this survey will help guide the federal and state governments as they plan their budgets – providing evidence for where more support and funds need to be wisely allocated and utilized. “As we build back better from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the MICS-NICS survey provides evidence to shape interventions and focus resources in a way that helps children and their families reach their full potential,”
The data will be useful in monitoring progress towards collective commitments to children and families, and inform future action.
