OSUN: Health Workers To End Female Genital Mutilation

 

Health Workers In Osun State To Protect Women, Girls From Harmful Practice Of Genital Mutilation.

Following a 3-day capacity building training program which was put together by Action Health Incorporated (AHI), in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Health, and the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for health workers drawn from Ilesha West, Irepodun and Ede South local government areas, health workers in Osun State have pledged their commitment to end female genital mutilation in the state by always protecting women and girls from such practice.

According to Miss Abdulrasheed Nuriyat, the AHI Programs officer, ' female genital mutilation as a harmful practice recognized internationally as a human rights violation.' 

Ms. Nuriyat stressed that there is need to engage health workers to serve as advocates against the harmful practice, and to also provide services to meet the sexual and reproductive needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences at the community level.

Mrs Aduke Obelawo, the focal point person of the United Nations Population Fund on female genital mutilation in the state, also told the health workers that medicalization of female genital mutilation was unethical to medical practice, and so, urged them to shun it.

Dr Gbenga Adepoju the Director of Public Health, while addressing the participants,  spoke on the reduction in the rate of the  practice in the state and further said that more effort was required by stakeholders to ensure its eradication.