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Female Genital Mutilation has no health benefit to girl-child
Nigerian government, international communities and experts have revealed that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), has been scientifically proven not to have any health benefits on the girl child.
This is as Nigeria accounts for the highest number of cases of FGM in the world with about one hundred and fifteen million out of one hundred and thirty million circumcised women worldwide.
FGM is a traditional practice inflicted on girls and women worldwide and it is widely recognised as a violation of human rights, which is deeply rooted in cultural belief and perceptions over decades and generations.
The procedure involves the total removal of the partial or total external female genital causing injuries to the female genital organ. In places where it is practiced, it is seen as a right of passage of the girl child to womanhood. And this is encouraged by family members in the fear and belief of social societal sanctions.
In Nigeria, statistics has shown that the south south zone has the highest prevalence rate of FGM with 77% amongst adult women. This is followed by the south east zone with 68% and the south west zone with 65%. The northern part of Nigeria also is not totally free this practice but is very very limited.
Speaking at he launch of Movement For Good to End Female Genital Mutilation taged
“#ACT2ENDFGM”in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Paullen Tallen, says Female Genital Mutilation is evil and must be stopped.
Stressing that there is no way t
FGM can be properly done without harming the female.
“It is condemnable. It is a crime against humanity and I pray that all of us gathered here should leave this hall as ambassadors towards zero tolerance of FGM.
Tallen reassuraing the federal government’s commitment and that of traditional rulers, noted that it is possible to end FGM in Nigeria.
In a similar vain, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire in his keynote address also said female genital mutilation has no scientific basis and benefits in medicine and healthcare but rather results in many serious health hazards and complications which sometimes are irreversible.
Ehanire explained that the laumch of the Movement for Good to End Female Genital Mutilation tagged “#ACT2ENDFGM” is a pointer to the fact that some of the consequences of FGM are also a variety of social consequences and the theme for this year is meeting here is accelerating investment to end female genital mutilation invest and don’t rest.
” This project targets over 8 million of men or women, grandparents, traditional political, community and religious leaders as the launch of the Movement For Good To End FGM is expected to galvanize action towards ending Female Genital Mutilation in Nigeria before 2030.
“We do not leave out health workers, state functionaries especially in five states of a Bauchi, Imo, Osun, Ekiti and Oyo for the movement for good to end FGM in Nigeria as it a calls upon us and stakeholders to step up investments to end this practice in Nigeria. We stop or rest at nothing in investment which allow this practice to continue unabated.
“It is therefore our moral duty to increase material and financial support to eliminate this harmful practice of female genital mutilation includes procedures that attempt to remove external female genitalia supposedly as a cultural practice or for cultural therapeutic reasons.”
French Ambassador to Nigeria, Emmanuelle Blatmann, also said that at least 200 women worldwide have undergone genital mutilation and more might be affected in the coming years.
Blatmann further said that FGM contravenes the rights of women and to promote the elimination of this scourge, coordinated and systematic efforts involving everyone are needed as France made the fight against FG. a priority of it’s feminist Diplomacy.
US Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard said that FGM harms women and girls across the continent and the US is working with its partners around the world to eliminate all forms of gender based violence including FGM and US has been steadfast in its partnership with Nigeria.
Other international organisations, agencies and experts also pledged support and commitment to help stop FGM in Nigeria.
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