The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and UNICEF, has unveiled plans to conduct WASH – NORM Survey effective from 26th April in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A statement issued by the Statistician General of the Federation, Dr Yemi Kale, on the planned exercise indicated that it would help in collecting latest information on improved water access, the percentage of Nigerians who are involved in open defecation, and general sanitation practices.
WASH is an acronym for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene while NORM is National Outcome Routine Mapping.
In addition, this survey will provide further context on previously published data on water access, sanitation, and open defecation. In 2013, the NDHS Report showed that 34% and 59.6% of Nigeria’s population had access to improved sanitation and improved water sources respectively. Additionally, 28.7% of Nigerians still engage in open defecation.
According to the Bureau, these incidences pose a significant risk to public health and wellbeing, and more information is needed to gain further insight into this challenge to develop appropriate and better-informed solutions
In the light of the above, the WASH–NORM Survey is being conducted to provide quality data to the Nigerian Government to enable evidence based decision making as well as the efficient application of resources towards the improvement of access to WASH Services in Nigeria.
“The survey will cover all the 36 States of the federation, including the FCT. Forty (40) enumeration areas will be selected for study in each of the States and FCT, except Lagos and Kano where 40 enumeration areas will be selected based on each of the senatorial zones.
“NBS enumerators will be in the field to collect data from respondents for sixteen (16)days beginning from 26th April 2018.
“The NBS kindly appeals to all respondents to give its enumerators the required information and support for a successful conduct of the survey”, the Bureau added.
