YWCA Decry Female Mutilation

The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has advised
parents in Nigeria to stop female genital mutilation, saying that communities
who still practice female circumcision are not friendly to the womenfolk.

Aguring that practice is a superstition, the body advised
parents to stop the heartless act, because through circumcision the girl child
could be infected with various diseases.

The national president of the association, Mrs. Hwongchan
Majak gave the advice during a sensitisation campaign tagged “Protection of
maternal death and unwanted pregnancy” organised by the organisation, at
Abua/Odual Local Government Area, in Rivers State over the weekend.

She said in the north they don’t practice circumcision. “I
am from the northern part of Nigeria, we in the north we do not practice
circumcision, besides, that is a superstitious belief so, parents should please
not allow themselves to be deceived”. Mrs. Majak said.

According to her, one of the major reasons for the campaign
is to ensure that women know the importance of attending ante-natal during
pregnancy to avoid death during child bearing.

“Our desire is to educate women the importance of attending
ante-natal. We do not want to lose any woman while giving birth to a child,”
she stated.

The National President further advised women to consult
health centre or qualified medical doctor which in pregnancy, adding women
should stop the habit of patronising local midwives.

Speaking, the national general secretary of the association,
Sussie Metu, urged young girls to stop unprotected sex, saying that casual sex
can lead to unwanted pregnancy and infections which can cause untimely death.

“Women and girls should take precaution to have sex. We
don’t want any woman to die carelessly.

I also advice the women to always visit health centers
anytime they see changes in their body system,” Metu said.

Also speaking, Miss Mabel Iminibi and Victoria Inabo
(students) who attended the seminar thanked the organisers, saying that they
have learnt a lot from the campaign. According to them, before now they did not
know that female circumcision is bad.

The students called on their fellow young girls to stop
unprotected sex, adding that it can destroy their lives.

Tonye Orabere