Nation
Experts Decry FGM In Nigeria
Experts in children,youth, and women development have described Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as a time bomb, called for more concerted efforts to stop the barbaric practice in Nigeria.
According to them, despite taking an important step to enact a law banning FGM in 2015, Nigeria still faces an immense battle to ensure enforcement and, ultimately, end the obnoxious practice by 2030.
They spoke at a webinar hosted in Abuja by ‘Education as a Vaccine’ in commemoration of 16 days of Activism (2022) with the theme: “The Role of Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Ending FGM in Contemporary Nigeria Society”.
Speaking, the Executive Director of Value Re-orientation for Community Enhancement (VARCE), Ademola Adebisi, explained that any mutilated female suffered psychological trauma, physical pain, prolonged and obstructed labour during pregnancy as well as hindrances in urine and menstrual flow.
He cautioned that a victim whose clitoris was mutilated as a child would not derive pleasure in sex when she attain womanhood because of the lingering negative effect of the practice on her mind.
Adebisi further identified the types of female genital mutilation as clitoridectomy, excision, infibulation and unclassified group.
According to him, the unclassified group include pricking, piercing, or incision of the clitoris and/or labia, scraping of the vagina, stretching the clitoris, cauterization, the introduction of corrosive substances and herbs in the vagina, and other forms of tampering with the female sex organ.
“Unclassified female genital mutilation is the time bomb we are not focusing on, at all.
“We must all come together to make sure that FGM is stopped in this generation because we all are affected by the menace.
“One thing adolescent girls can do to end FGM is to start speaking out, and adding their voices to the conversations for all stakeholders to listen,” the expert said.
In her contribution, the Executive Director of Hope for Second Chance Foundation (HOSEC), Ibukunoluwa Otesile, said although the origins of FGM as a socio-cultural practice in Nigeria cannot be traced with precision, the menace also known as female circumcision or female genital cutting is prevalent in the country.
She described such practices as abuse, assault and injustice to women apart from the psychological trauma on them, adding that there’s an established relationship between female genital mutilation and the risk of HIV.
Otesile explained that the link between the two is supported by the fact that some of the instruments used on multiple victims at once, especially during festivities, are blades, scissors and knives which are mostly unsterilised.
She said it is double jeopardy to suffer the pain and trauma of experiencing the use of knife, razor blade, scissors among others to cut the clitoris without anaesthesia and still get infected with HIV.
The expert advised those indulging in such practice to desist from it, saying there are punitive laws for sanctioning perpetrators.
She harped on the need for stakeholders to provide more support for girls and young women in the country to end FGM, saying “all of us must be concerned about it and realise that nobody can do it better than ourselves.”
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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