Imo Women Groups Laud UNICEF, NOA Over Fight Against FGM

By
Kazeem Tunde
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292
Tot ADP 'Female Circumciser Lays Down Her Tools' Before downing her tools, this circumciser, Divinah Murkomen, aged 50 circumcised 500 of the 800 girls circumcised in Marakwet District in December 1999. She put down her tools - a knife and a razor blade -- at the encouragement of NGOs like World Vision, who enlightened her on the myriad hazards associated with FGM. Female circumcision is a deeply rooted cultural practice in Kenya. World Vision Kenya has developed an alternative initiation ceremony that maintains the important period of older women sharing their knowledge and advice with the young girl, without genital mutilation taking place. For twenty years, the women of the Tot region in Kenya have called on Divinah Murkomen to circumcise their daughters. Now Divinah has renounced her trade and insists her two younger daughters will not be circumcised. Africa color horizontal

Imo Women Groups Laud UNICEF, NOA Over Fight Against FGM


Some women groups in Owerri West and Ehime Mbano Local Government areas of Imo State have lauded UNICEF and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for their concerted efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.

The women gave the commendation at a one-day “Training, Orientation and Mobilisation of ENDFGM Community Champions”, held at All Saints Anglican Church, Umuguma in Owerri West and Ehime Mbano Local Government áreas on Saturday.

The two local government areas are made up of 52 communities with Owerri West having 21 communities, while Ehime Mbano has 31 communities.

The women said it was necessary that old cultural and traditional practices with pains and disadvantages against women be dealt away within Imo communities.

According to them, many people have been misled, put in danger or made to die as a result of ignorance and petty belief about cultural practices such as FGM.

The women commended NOA and UNICEF for their training programmes that created awareness on the implications, laws and subsequent consequences of FGM and other harmful cultural practices on the girl-child and women.

Mrs Chinyere Ejiogu from Orogwe in Owerri West Local Government and Chair Lady of Umunganwoke Women Association said that many people, especially women, had been misled due to ignorance.

She described the training as essential and eye-openers and called on women in the communities to stop the cutting or mutilation of female genitals at any point in life.

She commended UNICEF and NOA for the training programmes and promised to help to spread the message around in her community which comprised of six villages.

Mrs Chinyere Manu from Umalum-Nekede Owerri West and Secretary General, Nekede Ancient Kingdom Women Association, expressed gratitude to UNICEF and NOA for creating awareness on FGM, saying that many women and families had suffered and were still suffering from effects of FGM.

She advised women to stop the practice of FGM, which she said, had many disadvantages and promised to help spread the message to help end FGM in her community.

Mrs Clara Nkwocha from Okolochi- Owerri West and the Acting President of Udodiri Women Group, expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying that the training had exposed the negative effects of FGM and how to champion the message to people in their communities.

She said FGM was fraught with embarrassing consequences to women and the girl-child and promised to pass the message of its abandonment through youths, women meetings and from house-to-house.

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