The Programme Officer, Women Development and Child Rights Programme, Justice Development and Peace Commission, (JDPC), Ibadan, Mr Olanipekun Ayorinde Thursday said Nigeria is presently having the highest Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the world.
She stated this in Ibadan while speaking at this year’s World Female Genital Mutilation Day, International Day on Zero Tolerance to Child Labour held at the JDPC office, St Patrick Church, Basorun, attended by Primary Health Workers from Oyo and Osun states
The JDPC Programme Officer, Women Development and Child Rights Programme, Ibadan said the UNFPA 2016 report indicated that 200 million girls or women of reproductive age, (15-49) are affected by Female Genital Mutilation throughout the World
He added that the same UNFPA report clearly stated that ” FGM is more prevalence in Africa with Nigeria having “the absolute highest prevalence of FGM.”
Mr Ayorinde pointed out that going by the report , six states in Nigeria, including Oyo and Osun states were identified with the prevalence of FGM, while in Osun state, the prevalence is between 80 -90% .
Emphasising the need for an end to Female Genital Mutilation, she called on Primary Health workers in Oyo and Osun states to rise to the challenges ahead on the need to end FGM prevalence in their respective areas.
In her presentation, the Head of Women Development and Child Rights Programme, Justice Development and Peace Commission, (JDPC), Ibadan, Mrs Omotayo Adebayo called for stoppage of practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria, saying at present, over 1.4billion dollars are being expended globally on yearly basis for the treatment of survivors of FGM, which in turn is taking its toll on the budget meant for the health sector.
