The World Health Organisation's (WHO) research on the reason why some people still indulge in Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) shows that it is practiced in other to have control over the female's sexuality because it is assumed that if the clitoris or certain parts of the female genitals is not cut off, the woman will be insatiable sexually which will lead to promiscuity and infidelity in marriage.
There has, however, been various campaigns addressing why this belief has to be stopped because FGM is still happening in our society today. Mr. Fall Mohammed of UNICEF acknowledges the effort that has been made so far in other to end this dangerous act but he stresses the fact that there is still a long way to go.
According to the National Demographic and Health Survey, 2013 conducted by UNICEF five state of Nigeria were highlighted to still be practicing this act of FGM. The states are Osun, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo and Oyo states.
The campaign against FGM is still an ongoing thing as there are still so many people that need to be educated and informed that there are no medical benefits of FGM but only physical and mental torture.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, Mr. Bolanle Ambode who is the wife of the Lagos State governor said she doesn't agree to young girls being subjected to such a dehumanizing act just because they need to avoid some social stigma. she says that 45% of most adult women in Lagos has undergone some sort of FGM as reported by the demographic health survey 2013 and the reason for the presence of FGM victims as a result of migration from other states of the country.
At the Federal level, the wife of the Nigerian President Mrs. Aisha Buhari also commenced a National Campaign last year to put an end to the practice of FGM in Nigeria. She calls on every Nigerian Woman to stand against FGM because it is a violation of the rights of the girl child.
FGM is however not just a situation going on in Nigeria or Africa alone, it was reported by the National Health Service (NHS) in May 2016 that although FGM is an illegal act in England, FGM cases get reported on a daily basis.
A female Genital Mutilation is an act of violence against the girl child and the fight against this act needs to be strengthened by parents and adults learning that it is very dangerous and damaging to the health of the girl child. campaigns against FGM shouldn't stop on till people are educated right from the grassroots in our villages to the classrooms in our schools.
Photo credit: UNICEF
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