A Non- governmental organisation NGO , Hacey Health Initiative recently organised media dialogue on public awareness to sensitize the people against the practice of Female genital Mutilation. FGM.
The program cuts across Ekiti,Oyo and Osun states
At the dialogue which came up in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital, Hacey health initiatives decried that the practice of FGM poses great threats to the survival, development Protection and participation of a chilld.
The program is tagged: “STOP CUT”
The Ekiti state coordinator of the NGO,Oluwanifemi Helen Ayeni said “the media has a vital role to play if we must win this war and eradicate the practice”.
She added that part of the objectives of the program was to “ascertain the knowledge, prevalences and contributory factors of FGM in Ekiti, Osun and Oyo states.
“To increase public awareness in FGM practices, policies and laws and possible risks associated with FGM/C practices
The State Coordinator specifically noted that media are vast tools that can be used to spread awareness and bring about positive behavioural change through sharing the appropriate contents with the public.
“We organised the media dialogue, bringing together media personnel to feed us on how we could partner better and through the interaction, we got how we can leverage on press release and to focus attention on organisations that have Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) with structures in place that are already carrying out activities.
The Desk Officer, Female Genital Mutilation, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mr. Tolulope Ayotunde Ogunniyi, also tasked the people to ensure FGM eradication.
“Once everybody has this kind of mind, automatically, we will have a FGM-Free State and Nigeria at large”.
The Communication Manager for Hacey Health Initiative, Anne Bassey, said the media personnel have been educated on the practice of the FGM, saying the fight to end it is real. Adding that there are laws and policies that protect women and girls from violence.
“We are in a society where nobody needs to keep quiet when things are happening as the law enforcement agencies are there to act if reported.”
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