Female Genital Mutilation, FGM, which is the cutting or total removal of the external female genitals, has been described as a violation of human rights, health and integrity of girls and women.
This was stated by the wife of the governor of Oyo state, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde at a program to commemorate this year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM.
Mrs Makinde who called for collaborative effort to end the practice said the act had cause physical torture to girls and women, thereby leading to emotional pains.
The Oyo State female genital mutilation coordinator, Mrs Balqis Olawoyin said the practice was due to a cultural belief which was age-long thereby making it difficult to eradicate the practice totally especially in the grassroots areas.
Mrs Olawoyin who said the state government had employed the assistance of local surveillance officers to monitor those still carrying out the activities noted that a particular local government in Oyo state had the highest number of FGM cases according to report.
In a reaction, the national grand patron of circumcisers, Chief Abiola Ogundokun advised government to empower them by setting them up economically as this step of eradicating FGM will make them jobless.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Bashir Bello said FGM usually leaves a permanent scar on the victim, hence the need to stop it.
The program had in attendance traditional birth attendants, local circumcisors, mothers and religious organizations.
Seyifunmi Olarinde
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