Health

Oyo Inaugurates Committees to Tackle FGM, GBV

By Web News 223

By Iyabo Adebisi

To tackle the problem of Female Genital Mutilation, FGM and other sexual and Gender-Based Violence, GBV, the Oyo State government has inaugurated a 20-man steering committee and a 55-man technical working group for effective and sustainable management of gender-related issues. 

The committees, which had three months to come up with the Oyo State Action Plan on how to nip the issues in the bud, was inaugurated by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion at a special programme in commemoration of International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM held at the secretariat, Ibadan

The steering committee include Commissioners for Justice, Health, Trade and Education while the technical group has representatives from NGOs as its members. 

Inaugurating the committees, the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, said Oyo State is committed to building a society where gender-related issues are effectively and sustainably managed through a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach that transcends ministries, agencies and departments. 

In a remark, Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion and Chairperson of the Steering committee, Toyin Balogun, said the strategic platform is not just to tackle FGM but holistic gender-responsive governance and interventions that would ensure inclusive, just and equitable society.

According to her, ending FGM and tackling gender-based violence requires a full commission of government agencies, civil society, development partners, community leaders and the media.

In their goodwill messages, representatives of partner agencies and groups, including UNICEF and Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi expressed optimism that the effort would drastically reduce FGM and Gender-based violence. 

Oyo State is ranked 5th among States in Nigeria with the highest record of FGM practices.

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Health

FGM, Sexual Gender Based Violence are Evil – Don

By Web News 773

The Director, Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Oladosu Ojengbede, has lamented the debilitating effects of genital mutilation in the lives of the victims of the harmful traditional practice.


He said the cultural practice was widespread in some states and in a particular part of Nigeria, pregnant women were usually compulsorily mutilated during childbirth while they also insisted that circumcision must be carried out on any unmutilated woman before they could be allowed to be buried in case of death.


Ojengbede, who is a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology said this in Ibadan at stakeholders accountability conference on Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Oyo State.


The programme which was part of sensitisation campaign against FGM was organised by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Oyo State Government and Centre for Population and Reproductive Health (CPRH).


He listed effects of FGM to include, fistula, infant mortality, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, menstrual disorder and death, stressing that the practice had not positive effect whatsoever.


Ojengbede said Female Genital Mutilation and other gender based violence were evil and must be stopped because they did not have any good advantage.


The Representative of the UNFPA, Dr Esther Somefun, said one of the goals of the agency was to end all forms of violence against women.


She said, “The goal is to end all forms of violence and harmful traditional practice against women and girls. UNFPA has zero tolerance for SGBV, discriminatory and harmful traditional practice.


” In view of this UNFPA, jointly with UNICEF and Global Affairs Canada leads the largest global and national programme in Nigeria to address SGBV and accelerate the elimination of FGM.


“In Nigeria, 33 in 100 women and girls have experienced sexual, economic, physical, cyber and emotional violence. With the COVID- 19 pandemic, the numbers have increased astronomically and taken various forms including killing and mutilation of women and girls affected.”

Olumide Ogunbiyi

Health

Fayemi Expresses Worry Over Rising Cases Of Assault Against Women

By Web News 783

Victims of sexual abuse and assault in Ekiti State have been challenged to speak out and report any case of such to appropriate authorities for prompt government response to their plight.

Governor Kayode Fayemi gave the challenge in Ado-Ekiti while inaugurating the Moremi Clinic to serve as Sexual Assault Referral Centre, SARC, situated at EKSUTH as part of activities marking a 16-day global activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Ekiti State.

The governor who described violence against women as the most pervasive human right abuse in the society stressed that government was concerned about the increasing rates of the menace.

Dr Fayemi explained that the idea of the sexual referral centre was to demonstrate government’s commitment to ensure global best practices in the promotion and protection of women and girls rights in the state.

He remarked that the centre would provide free medical and legal support for victims to guarantee justice.

Dr Fayemi said the clinic has the response, medical, counselling, legal, police and community outreach team as its operational structure for effective service delivery to victims.

Earlier, the wife of the governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi noted that women and the girl-child need special care and attention as against daily assault.

She urged stakeholders to support government drive in the protection and promotion of rights of women and girls to guarantee a better society.

Tope Bamidele

News

Gender Based Violence: Ekiti 1st Lady Solicits Support of British Govt.

By Web News 751

The wife of the Ekiti state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has solicited the assistance of the British government in tackling gender-based violence in the country.

Erelu Fayemi stated this while receiving British high commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs. Catriona Laing in her office in Ado Ekiti

The wife of the governor said the assistance became important due to the high rates of the violence against women in Nigeria.

Earlier, the British High Commissioner, Mrs. Catriona Laing said she was in the state to identify with the policies of the present administration.

She promised that the British government was ready to render assistance to Nigeria where necessary.

Ifeoluwa Falayo

The wife of the Ekiti state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has solicited the assistance of the British government in tackling gender-based violence in the country.