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UNFPA bemoans prevalence of FGM in Oyo

By Timothy Agbor (Osogbo) and Waliat Musa (Lagos)
11 November 2021   |   1:38 am
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nigeria, has lamented the high prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Oyo State.

• Trains girls as advocates against practice
• Foundation begins free surgery for patients

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nigeria, has lamented the high prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Oyo State.

To tackle this menace and other harmful traditional practices rampart in the state, the agency said it had trained and empowered more than 100 adolescent girls to become vanguards of the campaign against the practices.

The UNFPA said recent data revealed that Oyo had 61 per cent prevalence rate of FGM. The 108 adolescent girls, drawn from nine local councils in the state, had 15 teachers as mentors and 30 volunteers at the 2021 boot camp held at Christ The Redeemer Secondary School, Molete, Ibadan.

The Gender Reproductive Health Analyst of the UNFPA, Dr Esther Somefun, said the boot camp, which was organised in partnership with an NGO, Value Female Network (VFN), was to promote equality and give voice to the silent traumatic challenges of the girl-child.

Somefun said more precise efforts were being targeted at the reduction and total eradication of FGM in Nigeria with adolescent girls changing the narrative. 

Also, the Head of Human Resource of VFN, Mr. Samuel Abimbade, said the girls were also trained on how to make soap, make-ups, tie and dye, among other skills. He said the girls were taken through self-defence skills against rape and other sexual assaults by experts.

MEANWHILE, a non-governmental organisation, Transforming Grace International Outreach Ministries (TGIOM), will begin free surgical intervention for patients with various health conditions on November 17, 18 and 19 in Ibadan at Prayer City Ground, Oyedina Village in Ido Local Council.

The U.S.-based Convener, TGIOM, Mofoluke Ogundipe Sloan, noted that the free surgical intervention was part of activities in reaching out to the less-privileged who could not afford needed medical surgeries and attention.

She said the surgical intervention was targeted towards bringing qualitative healthcare to vulnerable people in the society, and providing equitable and sustainably healthcare.

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