A Non-Government Organisation, New Generation Girls Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) has enlisted the supports of both traditional and religion leaders in ending the menace of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The NGO,in a four -day Workshop held in five communities in Ikole Local Government, outlined the dangers of the menace and the need for stakeholders to key into the campaign.
The programme ,an Intergenerational dialogue in 17 communities in Ekiti.15 in Ikole and 5 in Ado.The programme is in preparation to get those communities declare abandonment by November.
Participant at the meeting included Ministry Women affairs and social Development , Ministry of Health,Ministry of Justice,Nigeria Police Force and NSCDC.Stakeholders include Traditional and Community leaders,Service providers,religious leaders, Youth leaders,Traditional Birth Attendants, Market leaders People living with Disabilities among others.
Speaking on Thursday at a dialogue meeting with Participants in Oke-Ayedun, tagged “Intergenerational Dialogue on Ending Female Genital Mutilation in Ikole LGA”, the representive of the Ministry of Health, Amodu Dupe noted that Ekiti was rated as the state with the highest number of FGM in southwest.
She highlighted the consequences of FGM to include stillbirth, severe bleeding, shock, fever and septicemia, urine retention.
Others are maternal death, pelvic infections, infertility, difficulties in menstruation and passing urine, among others.
Quoting World Health Organisation (W.H.O), Amodu added that young girls between 0 and 15 years are at greater risk with 3 million girls as victims of FGM every year.
In her opening remarks, the representive of Ministry of Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Abegunde Oluwadamilola stated that the Ministry has been campaigning against FGM for years and will not relent until it stops in order to attain better future for the Kids.
“We have been doing this before but we will continue to progress in our fight against FGM so that our Kids can have a better future.” She said
The representive of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oloruntoba Sunday enjoined the Participants to cooperate with the Security outfit in ensuring that they stop the act of female genital mutilation or risk the consequences associated with it.
“Please, cooperate with us so that we can end FGM. Whatever they say we shouldn’t do, let’s distance ourselves from it.
“FGM is really painful and the Government is trying but we need your cooperation so that we can put an end to the menace.” He said
While noting that the efforts to end FGM is a collective task for all stakeholders , the Initiative charged Community, Religious Leaders, Traditional Rulers, Civil Society Organisations, Youths, Health Workers, Security Agencies, others, to lead community advocacy, network with inspiring people across their localities and engage in policy making in making sure that FGM is eradicated in the state.
Others Towns visited in the Local Government for the sensitisation programme include: Odo Ayedun, Iloro, Ayebode, Ipao, Oke-Ako, among others.