The MOH Undersecretary for Planning and Development Dr. Obeid Al-Obeid praised the arrangements and preparations carried out at the Directorates of Health Affairs for starting the execution of the largest health survey ever witnessed in the Kingdom on Saturday. He called upon all citizens and residents to cooperate with field teams.
He said the Director General of Health Affairs at each province shall undertake the general supervision works of the survey and act as the contact officer for the MOH Central Committee. The Assistant Director General of Health Affairs shall undertake the administrative supervision of works. His duties include following work progress, following the performances of supervisors and data collectors, and acting as the contact officer with the sample coordinator, training coordinator, and field work coordinator. Being responsible of the relative administration and technical affairs in the province, he will participate in training field supervisors and data collectors, provide field supervisors with survey questionnaires, maps, etc, and write reports on work progress and performance.
According to Dr. Al-Obeid, a cluster sample of 10900 families representing the whole population in the Kingdom has been selected by the Central Department of Statistics and Information from the actual records of the population census for the year 1425H. Executing the survey shall, therefore, require filling 10900 family questionnaires as well as other individual questionnaires, each family questionnaire including 30 pages and 179 questions, whereas each individual questionnaire is composed of 86 pages and 919 questions. The individual questionnaires shall be filled by any of the family members being over 18 years of age, whereas the quality of office and field works shall be evaluated in accordance with international standards.
He said the executive plan includes preparatory and coordination works with relative bodies, receiving samples from the Central Department of Statistics and Information, receiving formation of survey committees, training supervisors, coordinators and field researchers for seven days, collecting data for 40 days, and tabulation of data and writing the final report (120 days).
Al-Obeid said the World Health Organization has formulated a list of evaluation forms for the use of international health survey programs. The forms cover all aspects involved in health services, including food behaviour, smoking, pollution, the extent to which the health system respond to the anticipations and needs of the population, etc.
Expressing his hope that the survey shall find success, Dr. Al-Obeid confirmed the results shall benefit the country and the citizens. He called upon all citizens and residents to cooperate with field teams.