Ebonyi First Lady Advocates House to House Sensitisation against FGM

Wife of Ebonyi State Governor, Mrs. Rachel Umahi, has advocated for rapid house to house sensitisation against female genital mutilation (FGM) in the 13 local government areas of the state.

She made the declaration during a one-day symposium commemorating the 2017 zero FGM day sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund, Enugu under the UNICEF/UNFPA programme with funding from Department for International Development (DFID).

The governor’s wife noted that the FGM bill was on the state governor’s desk waiting to be signed into law, stressing that such practice would receive the full weight of the law.

Harping on the theme ‘Sustainable Policies and Responsive Services: TwinPillars for FGM Eradication in Ebonyi State’, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Charles Nzuki noted the symposium signifies a shining example of leaders who are committed to a cause to improve quality of life for vulnerable women who undergo excruciating pains of the practice.

He expressed worry that millions of women and girls have continued to undergo the harmful practice of FGM which causes high risk for maternal mortality, Vesico Vaginal Fistula, noting that schools remain a veritable platform to educate and facilitate reorientation of families, duty bearers and communities about the harmful effect of the practice.

He further stressed that health facilities should provide great opportunities to convert the routine contact and clinic attendance including ante/ post-natal and immunisation clinics to disseminate lifesaving messages to prevent the practice