Asmara — The National Statistics and Evaluation Office will conduct censuses this year, according to Mr. Ainom Berhane, acting head of the office.

In addition to gathering demographic data, studies would be conducted on the mother's mortality rate during delivery and the HIV/AIDS infection rate through blood testing. There are also plans to conduct studies focusing on the agricultural sector.

Noting that there existed no statistical office in Eritrea in the days of the colonial era, Mr. Ainom indicated that different censuses have been undertaken in the post-independence period, especially two major ones in 1995 and 2002.

Stressing the significance of statistics in formulating policies and assessing their impact, he explained that at present the Office has 50 statistics experts and that different types of skill-upgrading training are being offered by foreign experts in the field. He further pointed out that the National Statistics and Evaluation Office has now enough staff members and that a solid ground has already been laid for greater statistical studies.

The Office, which was established in the post-independence period, is a department in the Ministry of National Development.