NPC moves to step up  birth registration in difficult Terrains 

From Ene Ene, Calabar 

 The National Population Commission (NPC), has  commenced the process  of upscaling  birth registration in Cross River’s very hard to reach areas.

The National Commissioner, National Population Commission, NPC (Cross River State), Alex Ukam, made this known in Càlabar while speaking during the Advocacy Campaign in collaboration with the Cross River State government.

With the theme “Enhancing the power of inclusive data towards a resilient and equitable future for all” to  commemorate the World Population Day stressing  that the World Population Day is celebrated annually on July 11, following  declaration of United Nations on July 11, 1989.

Ukam stressed that for  too long, segments of Cross River’s population in the  rural communities had been  marginalised or  denied population services stressing that these communities should be counted.

He stated that it was against this background that the commission at the state began pursuing the tool of birth registration to ensure the legal recognition of every child in the state.

“Significant progress is being made in birth registration through our collaboration with the primary health care centers across the state but noticeable gaps still exist particularly in hard-to-reach communities and settlements.

“The way forward therefore is for Cross River and indeed Nigeria to ensure a total and effective civil registration of vital statistics, conduct regular censuses to generate data that are timely, credible, verifiable and geo referenced, ” he said.

In his remarks, Cross River State deputy governor, Mr Peter Odey, stressed that the state was putting  its weight solidly  behind the population  commission because accurate data is necessary to assist  the state in  all forms of developmental planning.

 The United Nations Population Fund UNFPA, Programme Coordinator in Cross River State, Dr. Andrew Kirima, said the theme of the event called for reflection on the indispensable role of inclusive data in crafting the resilient and just future for everyone.