The call for advocacies, accelerated action and concerted efforts towards ending the evil act called Female Genital Mutilation FGM in Nigerian and across the world adored this years program .
The 6th of February of every year is always set aside to address the need to eradicate, protect millions of women and girls from the harmful practices, that is prevalent in some parts of the country that had affected the health status of many women folk underlining the traditional beliefs.
The theme of this year’s program against Female Genital Mutilation FGM tagged Step Up the Pace , Strengthening Alliances and Building Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation FGM was geared towards total eradication in the country and across the globe .
With Nigerian placing third highest in 2022 , with 19.9M surviving and envisaging 27M in 2030, (UNICEF ), concerted efforts by government is a corrolary to eradicating the scourge.
Therefore, the need to accelerate progress, deepen partnership, translate commitment into tangible actions are been stressed by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim.
While frowning at the growing pace of Female Genital Mutilation FGM , she regarded the practice as a serious violation of both personal and human rights , requiring urgent and immediate actions .
The urgent , collective and sustained actions to protect the rights of women and girls, dignity so as to enhance the dignity of millions across the world, against the practice of removal for non medical reasons of any sort.
If the harmful practices is sustained unchecked, the implications of complications, shock , severe pain , bleeding and infection that will lead to subsequent death and paralysis will be large .
To drive the quest for elimination of Female Genital Mutilation FGM in Nigeria , the need for collaboration across sectors in the country will be germane.
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will also embark on advocacy to the National Assembly for a robust legal framework against the harmful practices , that is rampant in Jigawa state among many other parts of the country due to outdated acculturation and initiatives.
Plans are in top gear to open up a chapter of collaboration and mainstreaming across high risk areas and sectors to ensure the total eradication of the outdated practices, that had affected the health of our women and girls in the country negatively.
*ABUBAKAR YUSUF writes from Abuja he can be reached on [email protected].
