District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko, has challenged Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) enumerators to exercise professionalism, integrity and loyalty during household data collection exercise to ensure collection of accurate information that shall help in the implementation of social protection programmes in the district.

Speaking Monday, during the opening of a seven-day orientation of 130 temporary enumerators in Blantyre, Mdooko observed that quality and credible data depend on the professional and personal conduct of enumerators.

He, therefore, advised the enumerators to take the training seriously and work professionally to produce accurate results that will help government determine people’s eligibility for various social protection programmes such as the Social Cash Transfer Programme, among others, to improve their livelihoods.

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

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

Mdooko advised the enumerators to portray a good image of the Council by, among other things, being disciplined and culturally sensitive to speech and dressing.

One of the enumerators, Aisha Masiye, thanked Blantyre District Council for organising the training to orient them on their roles and responsibilities.

She pledged to adhere to all the advice given and gather the correct information to input in the UBR for the benefit of vulnerable households with social protection programmes.

The enumerators are expected to conduct collection between 30 to 42 days targeting household members in all eight traditional authorities of Blantyre.