Nkechi Uduma
The issue of female circumcision or what is also known as female genital mutilation has not been totally eradicated in Rivers state as some communities still practice it despite the implementation of the Rivers state abolition of female circumcision law in 2001.
In an interview with the chairperson of International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, Barrister Anthonia Osadebe, she said most communities like Buguma, Oyigbo, Degema and others were in the past known for the practice of female circumcision on women but currently Abua/Odua community is still into it.
“We have tried as much as possible to reach to most of these communities through our sensitization but recently we went to the Abua/Odua community to talk to the people there about it. I was really shocked to discover that even hospitals in these communities do these circumcisions on the female children.
“This is totally wrong and I think stakeholders in these communities should learn how to speak out about this issue. Because if no one is talking, how can we know that these things are still happening?”
However, a medical expert, Dr. Enyioma Igboasoiyi enumerated some of the health implications of this cultural practice on the victim
“The best illustration to use in order to describe the health implications of female circumcision is by painting a picture whereby someone burns someone else’s tongue with acid, thereby taking the person’s ability to taste food but allows the person to still make use of his/her tongue but the ability to taste is removed.
“When the female genital, particularly the clit or labia minora or both is removed, it can cause social, mental and emotional damage on the victim.
Apart from that, the victim may die during the procedure or get serious infection from it.
There is also the case of having uncontrollable bleeding as a result of the procedure and socially, there may be feeling of inferiority or low self esteem.”
Dr. Enyioma Igboasoiyi also called on stakeholders in the state to take the abolition law more serious by arresting or imprisoning offenders.
