Okowa’s aide seeks end to female genital mutilation
Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
An aide to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, Bridget Anyafulu has lamented the increasing rate of female genital mutilation in Southern Nigeria, saying that the act might spell doom if the bill regulating it is not passed into law.
Anyafulu, who spoke to journalists in Asaba on Wednesday said the VAPP bill currently before the state House of Assembly for consideration, if passed into law will correct the irregularities prevalent in female genital mutilation, adding that the bill has provision for punishing perpetuators of the act, even as she defined female circumcision as manipulation of the woman sexuality for exploitation
According to her, an estimated 200 million girls and women globally have had the experience while about three million girls are undergoing the unhealthy practice annually.
“With a population of about 190 million, Nigeria has the highest number of cases of female genital mutilation in the world, accounting for about one quarters of the circumcised women worldwide.
“Within the country, the South South geo-political zone has the highest prevalence rate among adult women with 77 per cent followed by the South East with 68 per cent and then South West with 65 per cent; the national prevalence rate among women is estimated at 41 per cent,” she said.
Anyafulu, who is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Child Rights Advocacy, however, listed some of the effects of female genital mutilation to include, menstrual vaginal and sexual problems, child birth complications, psychological problems and Vesco Vagina Fistula (VVF) or Return Vagina Fistula (RVF) which involves the leakage of urine or feces by victims.
“As a result of female genital mutilation, women and girls have been separated from their spouses, families and society, stigmatized and abandoned to an isolated miserable life, in the circumstances.
“It’s inevitable that women and girls suffering injuries and severe pain or whose families have been torn apart as a result of female genital mutilation will absent themselves from schools and work during their ordeals,” Anyafulu added.
