FGM: Makinde’s Wife makes case for eradication through sensitisation

Wife of Oyo state governor, Engineer Tamunominini Makinde and experts in the health sector have called for increased sensitization and involvement of males in bringing an end to Female Genital Mutilation.

The call was made at an event organized by the office of the wife of Oyo state governor to commemorate the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation held on Thursday.

Mrs Makinde harped on the need for community leaders, religious leaders, traditional rulers, civil societies organization, grassroots bodies to work together to transform social and gender norms to end female genital mutilation.

She also noted that education of men is critical for men to take informed decisions, protect wives, daughters, sisters and prevent female genital mutilation in their immediate communities.

Mrs Makinde Stated that “Today we are talking about protecting women and the girl child.

“Female genital mutilation had not help our women in any way but have caused more harm than good.

“I want everyone of us to shield our women and girl child, we must canvass on this to the people.

“We want the boys and the fathers knows that their job is to protect the women and the girl child.

“We are here to create awareness and educate people on the harmful effect of female genital mutilation.

“Female genital mutilation is a violation of fundamental human right that may cause a life long damage to the physical and mental health women and girls.

“Thus we need to intensify effort to end female genital mutilation.

“I believe joining hands with men and boys as suggested by this year theme will help eliminate female genital mutilation in our state before the year 2030 of targeted by the United Nations.

“Our fight against female genital mutilation practice in Oyo state had led to a noticeable decline.

“I will like to use this opportunity to call on our religious leaders, traditional leaders, health workers, law enforcement agencies, members of civil society in grassroot, association to join me to speak out and work together to transform social and gender norms to end female genital mutilation in our state.

“In addition as we have done today through our educators we need to educate our men to make informed decisions inorder to protect our wives, daughters, sisters and prevent mutilation in our community as their voices and actions can change social norms which will allow our girls and women even men in the long run to enjoy their fundamental human right, health, education and equality.

“The collaboration of this year international day of zero tolerance for female genital mutilation was made possible the support of the Oyo state government under the leadership of His Excellency Engineer Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde and my office is greatful for this opportunity.

“I will like to encourage women not to relent in the fight against female genital mutilation in Oyo state.

“I appreciate all the stakeholders for their commitment and effort towards eliminating female genital mutilation in Oyo state, she said.

Earlier in his opening address, the executive secretary Oyo state primary health care board, Dr. Muyideen Olatunji said that the state’s efforts at sensitizing the people of the state against Female Genital Mutilation was yielding results.

He further affirmed that the prevalence rate of female genital mutilation has dropped to 33.1 percent from 66.3 in the state.

Dr. Olatunji added that “I will put it to reminder to our subconscioness the need for men and boys to partner on one cause because of female interest.

“The social norms has affect the female gender and specifically to be able to reverse the practice of genital mutilation.

“In Oyo state we make a serious landmark the practice of female genital mutilation in this part of the world, initially was around the prevalence of about 66.3 percent now we have drop to 33.1percent as of the last year and if the survey is done again am sure it would gone down more than this much.

“It because first lady is so passionate about this that she has make it her personal project to ensure that to protect the interest of female gender.

“If we want to protect the female, protect the make folks.

“But we can’t do it without you and she has take the gauntlet battle and she needs your support to be able to ensure that we are achieve this success.

“We have no cause but to support the female to eradicate female genital mutilation.

“The collaboration for this year, should have done by the men and the boys, if you don’t encourage it from the childhood, you don’t inculcate that practice into them when they become of age they will not know how to enshrine the practice into their system.

“This year theme is so crucial and it so important that we bring men folk into the subconsciousness of reversing the female genital mutilation practice in our midst, he said.