This Is The Latest Stance Of The Honourable Commissioner For Health In Lagos, Dr. Jide Idris As Regards FGM

In a bid to put an end to the harmful practice of FGM -female genital mutilation in Nigeria, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris stressed the need for health workers to curb the menace by educating the public on the dangers involved.

Dr. Idris, who was represented by Dr. Mazidat Erinosho at the LASUTH/CITINET annual lecture series and awards of excellence, called for collective efforts in the eradication of female genital mutilation, PUNCH reports.

“The ongoing drive to eradicate FGM is being tackled by WHO, UNICEF, AU and other international stakeholders and we in Nigeria must not be left out.

“There is the need to eradicate FGM in Nigeria by educating the general public at all levels with emphasis on the dangers and undesirability of FGM,” he noted.

The event witnessed the presenting of awards of excellence to some staff of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Last year, wife of the governor of Lagos State, Bolanle Ambode called on mothers, women groups and influential government organizations to advocate towards total eradication of FMG in the country.

She made the call at Alausa, Ikeja; while celebrating the occasion of the 2017 International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.

Bolanle explained that FGM constituted an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls, violating their rights to health, security and physical integrity.

She questioned why women should continue to suffer such level of dehumanization, for social acceptance or to avoid social stigma.

“It is surprising that 45 out of every 100 adult women living in Lagos State have undergone FGM at one time or another as reported in the National Demographic Health Survey 2013. This is largely due to migration from those states where the prevalence is much higher.”

Shedding more light on the issue, she revealed that FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15, and that it often lead to severe bleeding and health issues that may include cysts, infections, infertility, as well as serious complications that could result in death.

She noted that it is wrong to tie the gruesome procedure to family honour, hygiene, fertility, protection of virginity and prevention of promiscuity.

Mrs Ambode called on massive public awareness campaigns and concrete actions against the practice.

She further stated that only when mothers begin to raise their voices against the act and when the government initiate strong legislation against the act that we can begin to race toward total eradication of the wicked practice in Africa and the world.