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Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has said the Federal Government will not rest until it stamps out the harmful practices if breast ironing among others meted out on young girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the nation at large.
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The minister stated this while on an advocacy and sensitisation visit to Garki Chiefdom, Abuja Municipal Council with her senior management staff.
She expressed worry over the unwholesome practice of ironing the breast of teenage girls residing at Kpaduma and Pygba communities of the FCT, citing damaging and health impacts of such harmful practices on girls and nursing mothers.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye condemned the unwholesome practice and assures that Federal Government will scale up efforts at eradicating the ‘barbaric act’ with attendant negative effects on the welfare of the girl child.
According to a statement signed by her Special Assistant, Media, Ohaeri Joseph, the practice falls among gender-based violence. She solicited the partnership of the Garki District Heads and other local authorities towards eradicating the practice as it negates the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at improving the welfare of women and the girl child.
“Breast ironing, which is being practised on some young girls as traditional rites meant to prevent early male attraction, rape, among others, are practices that are totally unacceptable and form part of condemnable and harmful practices against the female gender which must be stamped out,” she said.
The minister said: “This age-long tradition could lead to cancer on the affected girls as it is capable of leading to nipple challenges in their future life as well as the production of sour breast milk for their infants which is dangerous to the growth and development of new born babies.”
Responding, the District Head of Garki Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, (HRH), Ambassador Emmanuel Gade, assured that the Council will support the efforts of government towards bringing an end to the tradition and other forms of harmful practices against the female gender.
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