NGO Educates Women On Reproductive Health

Nigerian women have been advised to embrace family planning and reproductive health to be alive and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

The founder and President of Umuada Igbo Nigeria, Dr Kate Ezeofor, gave the advice last Saturday at St. Francis Catholic Church, Ohom Orba in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State at the 2011Catholic women August meeting.

She said the objectives of Umuada Igbo Nigeria as a non-governmental cultural organisation was to ensure the reproductive rights of women, eradicate harmful traditions against women and educate women on their constitutional rights.

She said the idea was to enable women to contribute their quota to the development of the country.

“We undertake the eradication of harmful traditional practices, uphold widowhood rights, empower women as well as educate them on reproductive health and rights issues”.

“We sensitise the women on family planning for a healthy living. We also create awareness on HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anaemia,’’ she said.

Ezeofor, who was represented by Mrs Kate Chibuzor, the National Coordinator of the organisation, said Umuada had its membership in the seven Igbo speaking states.

The state are Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers.

Umuada Igbo promotes the speaking of Igbo language and the culture of the people and sensitises young girls on the need to dress decently, she added.

“The recent Nwada Igbo contest in Abuja was a way of teaching young girls the importance of responsible dressing,” she said.

In a remark, the legal adviser of the organisation, Nkemakonam Anyaogu, said the organisation had settled many disputes and restored the rights of women being marginalised through mediation.

He stressed that recourse to the law court was the last option in the efforts of the organisation to get settlements.

“Report to us any form of abuse like rape and sexual assault and the organisation will take up the matter. You will not contribute even 10 kobo to the case.

“We ensure that women have the right of possession of their late husband’s properties; we also ensure that the fundamental rights of women are not tampered with,” he said.

Mrs Florence Anugba, a health worker and a member of Umuada Igbo, in a brief lecture, urged the women to ensure exclusive breast feeding for at least six months and wean their babies by the age of two.

She said some aspects of breast cancer had been traced to inadequate breastfeeding.

“Inadequate breastfeeding may cause cancer. When unused breast milk is left to dry, it forms lumps in the breast which may later result to breast cancer”.

“Ensure that you breastfeed your baby well since it beefs up the immune system and prevents the baby from getting certain diseases.

“Please seek medical attention as soon as you discover a lump in your breast,” she charged the women.

Responding, the President of St. Francis Catholic Women Organisation, Dr Cecilia Ekweme, expressed appreciation for the enlightenment and education given to the women on their reproductive health and rights.

“We are grateful and promise to put into practice the knowledge gained today. We are looking forward to seeing you next time to learn more,’’ Ekweme said.