Communities across four Local Government Areas of Imo State have pledged to end the practice of female genital mutilation by 2030.
This is amid concerns by various nongovernmental organisations over the alarming prevalence of female genital mutilation in the state.
The LGAs made the vow during a series of interactive dialogues jointly organised by the Virgin Heart Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund between Tuesday and Saturday in the Oru East, Oru West, Nwangele, and Nkwerre areas of the state, a statement by the NGO obtained by PUNCH Metro on Saturday disclosed.
Held at council halls and traditional rulers’ palaces, the events drew traditional rulers, presidents-general of communities, women and youth leaders, religious figures, adolescent gender champions, and male alliances.
The statement notes that officials of the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs, the National Orientation Agency, and guest facilitators from Ebonyi State were also in attendance.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of VHF, Peace Dike, commended the communities for their commitment and urged them to remain steadfast in eliminating harmful traditional practices.
“This collective effort will be instrumental in achieving our shared goal of a completely FGM-free Imo State by 2030,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the Eze of the Ofekata III community, Eze Stanley, decried the health and social impacts of FGM, pledging his support to ensure the harmful practice is rooted out.
“The change will start from the grassroots, and it is a joint community effort,” he charged.
Resource persons from Ebonyi State, Uchenna Unah and Lucy Ogodo, enlightened participants on the medical dangers of the FGM and its link to gender-based violence, citing conditions such as vesicovaginal fistula, complications during childbirth, and keloid formation.
The meeting also featured testimonies from a community leader, Chief Obinogwam Solomon of Ubahaeze Orodo, Mbaitoli area, a community that had already made a public declaration to abandon the FGM.
He stressed that the achievement required the collective effort of all community stakeholders.
“Achieving PDA is not one person’s job. It involves the collaborative efforts of everyone in the community, requiring the input of the traditional ruler, president generals, and every stakeholder,” he stated.
A representative of the National Orientation Agency, Francis Ihem, assured that the state government would support the campaign.
VANGUARD.
