2006 demographic health survey released by NSO

THE report of the 2006 demographic and health survey (DHS) was launched and released on Monday and will be vital in assisting the Government plan well for its citizens and development.
The 2006 DHS has been the second survey conducted successfully in PNG since the first one in 1996.
The report presents the findings on household and respondent’s characteristics, family planning, fertility, maternal and child health, infant, child and maternal mortality and other health indicators such as antenatal care, breastfeeding, child vaccination, childhood diseases and HIV/AIDS.
Deputy secretary of Planning and Monitoring Ruby Zarriga pointed out that the report will provide necessary data on PNG’s national targets and 67 localised millennium development goals indicators.
She added that most often, the lack of statistical data results in the Government not knowing what the impact of its social policies and programmes on the lives of its citizens were.
The acting national statistician Nick Suvulo added that “the results will also assist in monitoring the progress towards achieving the millennium and the medium-term development strategy 2006-2010.
The survey was conducted by the National Statistical Office with funding support of about US$6 million from the Government of PNG and development partners AusAID, New Zealand Aid, the Asian Development Bank, United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund.