By Kemi Olatunde

Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr (Mrs) Folukemi Aladenola has stressed the need for accurate population figure for effective planning in Nigeria.

She spoke while delivering her opening remarks at a sensitization exercise on mandatory death reporting, vital registeration of birth and census for relevant stakeholders in commemoration of 2023 World Population Day in the state on Wednesday in Akure.

According to him, unequal distribution of population in countries have limited capacity management describing Nigeria as one of the most populated black people in the world.

Represented by the Director, Public Health, Dr Stephen Fagbemi, she explained that it is important that countries pay attention to gender issues noting that the state government is committed to the protection of right of both women and girls.

She called on residents to embrace mandatory death reporting in order to generate adequate data in the state.

In his goodwill message, representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Mr. Moses Adewale while noting that women and girls are confronted with several challenges including discrimination and illiteracy among others, called for promotion of equal right of women and girls.

He assured of WHO continuous support for the state.

Representative of the State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, Prophet Akin Adaramola who described the topic as apt especially in the area of revenue generation stressed the need to scale it down to the grassroots.

In his lecture, Director, Vital Registeration, National Population Commission, Mr. Lateef Olowolagba who estimated Nigeria population (NPC) to an average of 216million stated that women and girls constitute 49.7 percent of the figure adding that the theme of the event requires action that will facilitate sustainable opportunity that will secure the future of girls.

He stressed the need to have a change of mentality by Nigerians on gender inequality noting that women contribute immensely to economic development of the country.

He called for strong birth registeration in the state.

Speaking on mandatory death reporting, Mr Alabi Babatunde of NPC in his lecture noted that the actual number of death in the state is unknown adding that it is important to track all deaths to ensure proper planning by government regulation for burial to promote safe environment for proper record keeping.

He called for adequate sensitization of citizens on the importance of death registeration adding that there should also be adequate reporting of deaths across health facilities in the state.