Speak up, UNFPA, CCPRH Message on Day of Zero Tolerance For FMG

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)in collaboration with the Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductige Health (CCPRH), have advised survivors of Female Genital mutilation ( FGM) to speak up to further enhance the fight against the act.

The Agencies commemorate the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM 2024 at the Jericho Nursing Home with a theme 'Her Voice, Her Future: Investing in Survivor Led Movement to End FGM.

 The theme according to the oranizers was aimed at encouraging survivors of FGM to speak up to further enhance the fight against FGM in Oyo State and Nigeria at large. 

The CMD Jericho Nursing Home, Dr. Bashir Kasika while speaking on the role of the Jericho Nursing home Ibadan in the fight to end FGM, said "we have the sexual assault referral centre here and we all understand that it covers every sexual related issues including FGM."

Dr Kasika who launded UNFPA and CCPRH for holding the event at the nursing home, added that the hospital doors will always be remain open for every survivor whenever they need help.

Representative of UNFPA Madam Uzoma Ayodeji noted that  "more than 200M women have undergone FGM and 4.4M women and girls will be at risk if efforts aren't intensified. UNFPA is putting in more effort to ensure the prevalent rate in Oyo state will decline further."

"This year's theme is investing in survival led movement to amplify the voice against FGM. We want to ensure that this shame is removed from the faces of women and girls" she said. 

Representative of the Oyo State Primary Health care board, Dr. J.O Osoko in his goodwill message stressed that "female who have witnessed these practices have a voice that someone must hear, and this is a collective assignment that all must do to save mutilated girls but we must do better to put an end to it and that's why the primary health care board is standing to support partners to put an end to this crime against humanity."

Mr. Ibilade from women affairs who appreciated  all concerned stakeholders involved in the fight against FGM Lamented that  "FGM affects women physically, spiritually and emotionally sentencing them to not being married".

"if you see something, say something" 

the ministry's door is open for collaborations".

In his speech, Director, Centre for Comprehensive Promotion of Reproductige Health Prof. Oladosu Ojengbede advocate that priority should  should be placed on survivors, noting that "it is the voice of the survivors that people want to hear for the benefit of people yet unborn. It is not just to talk about it at a point in time and it ends, ,the effect of preventing FGM is part of the motivation we have to continue to do the work we are doing."

The desk officers for FGM at the Oyo State primary health care board, Mrs Balkis Olawoyin launded the effort of the State Government in encouraging survivors led movement, saying it was the turn of survivors to collaborate and share their experiences so others can take them more serious."

One of the FGM survivors present Ms. Adekanmi Aderonke appreciated the support received from UNFPA, CCPRH and the state government .

Present at the event are officials of the state ministry of health, state primary health care board, ministry of education, ministry of justice, Members of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ,) others