Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Vincent Okpala has emphasised the State Government’s commitment for total elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), in the state.
Dr Okpala gave the assurance while addressing newsmen in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka at the commemoration of The International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, a United Nations campaign held on Feb. 6 yearly, to stop genital mutilation
The commissioner noted that through sensitisation and awareness campaigns in different parts of the state, the state is now recording low incidences of the practice, while assuring an increase in enlightenment programmes so as to eradicate the menace in the state.
Describing female genital mutilation as the removal of the external female genitalia, Dr Okpala said that in a bid to circumcise the females, people destroy the female anatomy and about 120 to 140 million women have been subject to FGM while three million girls are at risk each year, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
FGM relates to all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
This practice is an abuse of human rights and causes serious health complications, including fatal bleeding the commissioner also noted
Speaking further, Dr. Okpala posited that UN officially commemorated the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on Feb. 6, 2003. A day set aside by the UN to push the fight against FGM through a range of activities in addition to the observance as often times, the practice led to health complications including difficulty in child bearing, severe pains, excessive bleeding and even death and cautioned all parents and guardians to abstain from the act.
