Government has disclosed that plans are underway to broaden and strengthen the capacity of all research and Information institutions in the country.
Health Minster, Kapembwa Simbao says with the increasing demand for information in the country, research institutions can play an important role in providing accurate information on developmental programmes.
Speaking when he officiated at the launch of the 2007 Zambia Demography Health Survey (ZDHS) report in Lusaka today, Mr. Simbao noted that through strengthening of research institutions, national surveys will be concluded in time.
Mr. Simbao explained the ZDHS report is an important document which will assist government in evaluating what is needed to attain the fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He said ZDHS reports also play a critical role in the understanding of Social and economy indicators for many people.
He said there is need for all stakeholders to partner with government and ensure that national survey projects are well funded if they are to produce good results.
He further reaffirmed government’s commitment to provide support to projects aimed at providing information for national consumption.
Earlier United Nations Resident Coordinator, Macleod Nyirongo, said in view of the global recession there is need for Zambia to have reliable developmental information to re-focus and track progress towards reaching the goals of vision 2030, FNDP and the MDGs.
Mr. Nyirongo explained that with six more years to the attainment of MDGs, the ZDHS report will assist stakeholders in engaging in critical analysis of the findings and understanding the implications of the results.
He called for concerted efforts from partners in coming up with good innovative approaches and interventions to the gaps that still exist in the report.
He has also disclosed that the UN system in Zambia with cooperating partners have engaged in further detailed triangulation of the ZDHS 2007 report with other studies such as the EPI-synthesis.
The UN Envoy further appealed to Zambian to utilize the results of the survey in re-adjusting their strategic and Programme focus for enhancing human development in the country in the remaining two-years of two FNDP 2006-2010.
Central Statistical Office (CSO), Director Efreda Chulu, said ZDHS report provides key indicators that inform the nation on important health programmes.
Mrs. Chulu pointed out that accurate information on both the population and national projects are vital in strengthening of the information generation.
She disclosed that CSO as an organization tasked by the government to carry out the survey, faced a lot of challenges ranging from inadequate resources to ignorance on the part of most citizens due to lack of information.
She also reiterated the importance of having a good census, adding that surveys like the ZDHS draw their samples from the total national census.
ZANIS/MM/MKM/ENDS.
There is a lot of information that the research institutions have provided, but most of it just runs dry without being properly implemented. I want to see decentralization of government work out first. If the local governments can do a lot without running to Lusaka, then development can be recorded in most sectors like agriculture.
Greetings Jamaco. Good observation.
Nine Chale thanks.
I am already in the club of sleepless nights. Joyful moments though.
man let em make jobs for us
Are Zambians realising this today? Research is an integral part of development without which achievement is futile.
Sound reasoning . Research is a corner stone of all development in times past , present and invariably the future.
Effective reseach is followed up by implementation. Wonder how many researchs in Zambia have reached that stage.
Ooops. meant effective research….
Good points Mr Minister.