‘Female Genital Mutilation, Threat To National Devt’

A civil society organisation, Hacey Health Initiative has described the menace of female genital mutilation as a threat to the national development of any nation, which must be tackled urgently.

It said the harmful effects of the practice pose great danger to the survival, development, protection and participation of women and girl child.

The coordinator of the non-governmental organisation(NGO) in Ekiti State, Oluwanifemi Helen Ayeni, stated this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital during a media dialogue  tagged: “Stop Cut Project”.

She said, Treatment of the health complications of the FGM in 27 high prevalence countries is estimated to cost $1.4 billion USD per year and is projected to rise to $2.3 billion  by 2047, if no action is taken.

“This simply demonstrates clear economic benefits from ending FGM,” she said.

She quoted the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), developed by UNICEF to have said that, atleast, 200 million women and girls have been victims of FGM globally.

“Every year, up to three million girls are at risk of being mutilated globally.

“In Nigeria, the prevalence of FGM/C is estimated at 15.1 per cent among women and 8.2 percent among girls”.

Ayeni who sought the engagement of the media and other stakeholders in the fight against FGM said such enhanced public awareness and positive behavioural change through sharing the appropriate contents with the public.