6,000 families to be interviewed to assess the situation of children, women and men

6,000 families across Fiji are expected to be interviewed in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey which is designed to assess the situation of children, women and men in the areas of health, education, and child protection.

The survey developed by UNICEF will run till mid-April.

UNICEF says the survey will collect data on health, nutrition, child protection, education, learning skills of children, early childhood development, water, sanitation and hygiene among other topics.

It says this will help in monitoring the progress towards national goals including the COVID-19 preparedness and response plan.

UNICEF says accurate data will be available to assist the government and key stakeholders to improve access to quality services for children, their families and those who are most in need.

It says in the most recent rounds of the survey, additional data are also collected on men.

The survey, led by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, is funded by New Zealand, with additional financial and technical support provided by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund.