The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have urged communities in the country to public denounce Female Genital Mutilation.
The agencies gave the urge at Isu, headquarters of Onicha Local Government Area of the state during a sensitisation programme on public denunciation of the harmful practice.
Dr Desmond Onwo, NOA Director in Ebonyi, said that communities’ public denunciation of female genital mutilation is a way of informing others that they have stopped the practice.
“The present declaration of the Onicha people on abandoning the practice is unique because it would make others emulate their action.
“NOA, UNICEF and other partners are happy to have partnered the stakeholders, gatekeepers and inhabitants of these eight communities towards this landmark achievement.
The agency’s director said that new revelations and enlightenment have made people realise that the practice does no good or bring advancement to mankind.
“The practice is not only harmful, it destroys the wholesomeness of women, poses increased risk of disease transmission, causes bleeding, prolonged labour among other harmful effects.
He said that the United Nations joint programme on the practice has drastically reduced its prevalence among women aged between of 15—49 in the state from 74.2 per cent (in 2013) to 53.2 per cent (2018).
“The prevalence rate among girls between the ages of 0—14 years within the period under review has also dropped from 26. 2 per cent to 5.2 per cent but we seek that Ebonyi records zero per cent,” he said.
Dr Ibrahim Conte, Chief---UNICEF Enugu Field Office said that UNICEF in collaboration with NOA and other relevant agencies, have worked tirelessly in ending the deadly practice.
“We presently have rights and laws which protect the rights and privileges of children in Ebonyi such as the Ebonyi Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, Ebonyi Child Rights Law among others.
“We are happy over the drastic reduction of the practice’s prevalence in the state but urge stakeholders to increase efforts geared towards its total elimination.
He said that law enforcement and duty bearers (police, social welfare officers, judicial officers among others) would be trained to further support efforts to end the practice in Onicha LGA.
HRH Ambrose Ogbu, Tradition Ruler of Isu said that the people would identify and ensure the prosecution of offenders who still indulge in the harmful practice.
Goodwill messages were delivered at the occasion by representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, state ministries of Health and Justice, leadership of the council among others.
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