"We learned new skills that will have a long-lasting impact on our career. The training made us feel so much stronger. The organizers need to do more of such training."
Both training programmes were organized by Central Department of Population Studies of the Tribhuvan University in collaboration with Population Division under the Ministry of Health and Population and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, from 16-22 November and December 9-15, 2014 respectively.
In the first training, government officials and academicians received hands-on practical skills on the state-of-the-art of survey data analysis techniques using commonly available software package particularly SPSS and the appropriate use of different types of statistical measures. The intensive hands-on exercises extensively used real survey data and other routinely collected data and provided practical skills to generate statistical outputs and interpretation of the results and presentation.
Government representatives included statistical officers and officials from the Eastern and Central Development Regions who were nominated by the Ministry of Health and Population. Most of the government participants selected for this workshop were the district focal persons responsible for data collection, evaluation and analysis, mostly on socio-demographic and health issues. The participants from the academia are involved in teaching subjects related to population dynamics in Bachelor's and Master's level in different colleges.
Similarly, in the Training on Research Methodology, the participants learned how to use research methodologies in a scientific manner to help improve and implement plans and policies.
Inaugurating the Training on Survey Data Analysis, Prof. Dr. Gunanidhi Neupane, Rector, Tribhuvan University, called on the government to bring in programmes that would encourage students to enrol in courses like population studies. Prof. Dr. Ram Sharan Pathak, lead coordinator of the training who also heads CDPS, said that this workshop was intended to enhance the knowledge and skills of government officials and academia.
Addressing the closing session, Giulia Vallese, Representative, UNFPA, said the mutual collaboration among the MoHP, CDPS and the UN agency is an excellent example of public-public partnership. She stressed that capacity building is very important for UNFPA and that CDPS was the perfect place and institution to simulate knowledge.
Kedar Bahadur Bogatee, Chief of the Division, said there is a general perception that population programmes are not highlighted as much as health issues. He committed to strengthen the Division and expanding coordination with UNFPA and CDPS.
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