Professionalism crucial in data collection—Blantyre DC

 Blantyre district commissioner (DC) Alex Mdooko has challenged enumerators to exercise professionalism, integrity and loyalty during data collection exercise in the district.

Speaking on Wednesday during the opening of a seven-day orientation for 130 temporary enumerators in Blantyre, he said quality and credible data for the unified beneficiary registry depends on the professional and personal conduct of enumerators.

Mdooko advised the enumerators to take the training seriously and work professionally towards producing accurate results that will help the government determine people’s eligibility for different social protection programmes such as the Social Cash Transfer Programme.

He said: “Usually in data collection, when somebody inputs wrong information into the registry, in the end, it is the government that finds itself in an awkward situation of mis-targeting or under-targeting people for the social protection programmes.

“So, to avoid inclusion and exclusion errors, it is my plea to enumerators to gather information that will reflect the real situation on the ground.”

Mdooko also advised the enumerators to portray a good image of the council by, among other things, discipline and culture sensitive in speech and dressing.

One of the enumerators, Aisha Masiye, commended the council for training them on their roles and responsibilities.

She pledged to adhere to the code of conduct and gather correct information to input in the unified beneficiary registry.

The enumerators are expected to conduct the exercise between 30 and 42 days, targeting households in the district’s eight traditional authorities