The Child Health Advocacy Initiative
(CHAI) and the Lagos State Government have warned against female genital
mutilation, saying it is unhealthy and violates the rights of women.......
Stating this in a press briefing on FGM
in Lagos, the Executive Director, CHAI, Mrs. Lola Alonge, said FGM
violates all human rights principles, including equality, non
discrimination of sex and the right to health.
She said FGM causes lifelong physical
and psychological harm, as it affects the family, community,
relationships and economic development. “Trained health workers who
perform FGM are violating girls and women’s right to life and health.
“We therefore call for the domestication
of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP). On May 2015,
President Goodluck Jonathan signed the VAPP into law. This law bans FGM
and other traditional harmful practices. But the VAPP only applies at
the Federal Capital Territory. It is now up to each state to domesticate
the law. Previously, 11 states have enacted laws against FGM. However,
there is inconsistency between passing and enforcing the law,” she said.
The Commissioner for Health, Lagos
State, Dr. Jide Idris, said FGM is the most barbaric form of killing and
harming of women, adding that this leaves them psychologically
traumatised. “FGM is a deeply rooted cultural belief that needs to be
removed. It is not just enough to make the law, we need to call people
together and create awareness on how to end FGM. In Lagos, we have 44
per cent practice because Lagos is a multi-national state with various
ethnic groups.
“FGM heals with irreparable scare that
prevents the woman from enjoying sex, having babies, among other harms.
Everyone needs to come together to fight against the practice.
Idris, who was represented by the
Director, Family Health and Nutrition, Dr. Folashade Oludara, said, “We
are told that 28 per cent are being conducted by health workers, but am
sure it’s not in Lagos because any health worker caught doing so will be
prosecuted,” he added.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr.
Lola Akande, said FGM was an abuse against the girl-child and women
hence the need to be abolished.
The commissioner, represented by Dr.
Mrs. Sola Falana, said Lagos was ready to collaborate with CHAI in the
eradication of the practice.
“We believe this is an abuse, and we
have a number you can dial to report cases of abuse in Lagos. The state
government has always been in the forefront against such practices and
we are ready to collaborate with CHAI in the eradication. But this is a
collective effort, we need to carry out sensitisation especially to our
men. Today, many women are not enjoying their marriage because of this
FGM, it has led to so much deaths,” she noted.
Explaining more about the practice, the
President, Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN),
Dr. Sariyu Ashiru, stressed that the practice has no medical benefit but
is still lingering because of culture.
“These procedures are being
performed by quacks which is why the victim end up with complications,”
she said.
Meanwhile, the Baale of Marine Beach,
Chief Joseph Omobolanle ogunmola, said his community has started
campaigning against the practice through the pastors and the
Baales:
“The practice is endangering the life of our young girls. We
want them to live. It should be our collective responsibilities to
sensitise our families to stop FGM so that our females can live long and
in good health.”
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