As part of efforts to sensitise and
devise a sustainable means towards the complete eradication of female
genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) the United Nations Children’s
Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) are partnering
to introduce FGM/C care modules into health education programmes as well
as support in-service capacity strengthening for health providers as
part of her 2017 work plan.
Reviewing the UNICEF/UNFPA joint
programme
to accelerate action to end FGM/C at a recent two-day zonal
child protection planning meeting on FGM Abandonment programme held at
Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, participants drawn from Imo and Ebonyi states
resolved that the funding and implementing partners should press for the
introduction of FGM modules in the health curriculum as a way of
creating awareness on the immense dangers of FGM to all stages of human
sphere.
The meeting which was at the instance of
UNICEF in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA),
Ebonyi State had the State Directors of NOA for Imo and Ebonyi, Dr.
Vitus Ekeocha and Dr. Emma Abah respectively; the UNICEF Consultant on
FGM/C in charge of Imo and Ebonyi states, Mr. Benjamin Mbakwem; UNICEF
Consultant on Child Protection, Mrs. Nkiru Maduechesi, and UNICEF
official, Hilary Ozor as facilitators urged participating partners to be
thorough on designing the 2017 work plan programme.
Welcoming participants to the meeting,
Abah reminded them that their presence was essential to progress of the
plan as it would afford them the opportunity to review the plan so far,
adding “our partners have done well by summoning us here to see how we
can discuss and design a possible way to reduce the issue of female
genital mutilation and cutting”.
The objectives of the meeting according
to Maduechesi included to provide mutual accountability platform for
government, civil society organisations and UNICEF on participatory
planning for implementation of 2017 work plan; underlining concepts and
methodologies for implementing of activities; identify gaps,
opportunities, risk mitigation measures and integrate in the planning
process; provide space for discussion on overcoming challenges
encountered; and enhance space for accelerated implementation.
While presenting UNICEF/UNFPA joint
programme to accelerate action to end FGM/C, Mbakwem revealed that 2017
work plan needs strengthening the Integration of FGM into SRH services
and health education, strengthening capacity to prevent FGM and
collaborate with Midwifery Associations and other professional medical
bodies to increase the engagement of health providers in FGM prevention
and end medicalisation of FGM.
According to him, there is support
training of midwives on the e-Learning module on FGM Prevention,
strengthening Protection Services, law enforcement officers and members
of the judiciary on how to support and protect girls and women at risk
of FGM, as well enforcement through prosecution of perpetrators.
He also stated the need for the media to
amplifying change of attitude on the part of the public through
embarking on media campaign organise capacity strengthening workshops,
field visit for journalists and Phone-in radio panel discussions,
dissemination of preventive messages, production of jingles, partnership
for pro-bono broadcasting, publicity for joint programme activities,
advocate for allocation of budget for FGM preventive and response
services.
The UNICEF consultant called on religious and traditional leaders to accelerate abandonment of FGM.
By Amby Uneze in Owerri
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