- Calls For More Decisive Action
BY PATRICK MGBODO/RITA OYIBOKA
THE Delta State branch of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) has called for strategic action to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), globally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
Delta MWAN, through its president and State Team Lead of the AIM-MNCHN Project, Dr Olive Ogelle, made the call in Asaba as it observes the International Day of Zero Tolerance of FGM today.
In a statement made available to The Pointer, Ogelle urged stakeholders to unite in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM), condemning it as a harmful tradition that continues to impact millions of women and girls worldwide.
Quoting statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), she said an estimated 200 million girls and women have undergone some form of FGM, with the practice being most prevalent in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
‘’Delta State branch of MWAN in collaboration with the MWAN National Maternal And Child Health Committee and AIM-MNCHN Project are calling on stakeholders to eliminate the harmful practice.
‘’FGM is a traditional practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. According to the WHO, FGM can lead to severe bleeding, infection, and scarring, which can increase the risk of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).
‘’In addition, FGM can also lead to psychological trauma, anxiety, and depression, which can further exacerbate the risk of PPH, a leading cause of maternal mortality’’ she said.
While commending the Delta State Government for its efforts to eradicate the practice, Dr Oeglle lamented that the prevalence of FGM is particularly high in the Niger Delta region, mostly in rural areas where it is deeply rooted in cultural beliefs and traditions.
‘’However, the Delta State Government has taken a significant step towards ending FGM by domesticating the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act). This federal law provides a framework for law enforcement agencies to prosecute offenders and for healthcare providers to protect victims and punish offenders with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment,’’ Ogelle said.
To address the issue and improve maternal health, MWAN Delta called on policymakers to strengthen laws and policies that prohibit FGM and provide support for survivors, engage with traditional leaders, community members, and young people to raise awareness about the dangers of FGM and promote alternative rites of passage.
Other recommendations by Delta MWAN include providing medical, psychological, and social support for survivors of FGM, training healthcare providers to recognize and respond to the physical and emotional needs of women and girls who have undergone FGM and promoting alternative rites of passage that do not involve harm or violence against women and girls.
‘’As healthcare professionals in Delta State, we have a responsibility to advocate for the rights and well-being of women affected by FGM. By commemorating the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM and taking action to improve maternal health outcomes for women with FGM, we can make a positive impact on the lives of countless women and girls in our community’’ MWAN said.
