Traditional rulers in Rivers State have pledged to support the campaign against female genital mutilation (FGM) and rape in communities.
The commitment was made when the Rivers State Ministry of Health and members of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers engaged in an interactive meeting on the elimination of FGM and rape at the Council’s Secretariat in Port Harcourt, says the spokesperson to the Ministry of Health, Ednah Alete, on Tuesday.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vincent Wachukwu, was represented by the Director of Reproductive and Family Health, Dr. Sandra Abolo, who urged the traditional rulers to leverage their vast influence in curbing the practices and protecting girls and women in their areas of jurisdiction.
Wachukwu described FGM as a major public health challenge which, if not checked, would have serious implications for generations to come.
The medical practitioner noted that the scourge not only caused direct physical health complications to the victims but also psychological trauma and, in many cases, death.
Wachukwu said the state government would partner with the traditional rulers, UNICEF and development partners in ramping up efforts to eradicate FGM and stop rape.
According to him, FGM was a cultural issue that had acquired dimensions of major public health concern. The health workers, he said, would partner with the traditional rulers in their efforts to fight the persistent malaise.
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“You are the voice that the people listen to and because you are closer to them, we see you as the best channel to communicate the message to the people,” Wachukwu said.
He listed some of the complications of FGM, which include: extreme blood loss, infections such as HIV/Aids, hepatitis, tetanus, sexual dysfunction, problems in marriage, and psychological effects.
He urged the traditional rulers to find ways and means of stopping the practice and creating awareness in their areas of responsibility.
Earlier in the proceedings, the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, represented by His Royal Majesty Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, described the elimination of FGM as a collective responsibility that required the effort of all stakeholders.
Eze Ohna Apara IV of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area pledged the Council’s commitment to driving the campaign on the elimination of FGM in all the communities within the state’s jurisdiction.
The traditional ruler said gender-based violence, including FGM, had become a key issue of concern in the United Nations and other international forums, and Nigeria must rise to the challenge and confront it head-on.
He said the need for action was important because FGM was mostly performed in the communities, outside the formal healthcare system, and the community leaders should be involved in efforts to eliminate it.
The interactive meeting was part of the efforts of the Rivers State Government, in partnership with UNICEF and other stakeholders, to build an enduring partnership to end FGM and rape and create a haven for women and girls in the state.
