On February 6th, Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), amidst report that about 19.9 million Nigerian women have all had their genitals mutilated and are now suffering some kind of severe sexual and reproductive health issue. Majority of the FGM/C, performed on newborn during naming ceremony- on the 8-9th day, have resulted in infection and infant mortality. Experts revealed this shocking situation during a 2-day media workshop towards abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM) in Nigeria, held at Leisure Spring Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State Nigeria.
Explaining the situation during her presentation, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, Maryam Enyiazu, said that Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of women and girls (19.9 million) who have undergone FGM/C worldwide (after Egypt and Ethiopia), according to statistics from National Population Commision (NPopC 2014) and National Demographic Health Survey report, (NDHS, 2013). “From the findings, FGM is more prevalent in the southern zones than in the northern zones. The States with the highest prevalence are; Osun (77%), Ebonyi (74%), Ekiti (72%), Imo (68%) and Oyo (66%). Also, FGM is most prevalent among Yoruba women (55%), followed by Igbo women (45%). Infibulations (removal of the clitoris and labia of a girl or woman and stitching together the edges of the vulva to prevent sexual intercourse) is found to be more prevalent in Nasarawa (22%), Kaduna (21%), and Bayelsa (20%) than in other states.
While the Proportion of FGM among girls age 0-14 is higher among those whose mothers have been circumcised. It was also gathered that 87% of girls age 0-14 and 80% of women age 15-49 were cut by a traditional agent (Circumciser, TBA, & others) while 12% of girls and 13% of women were cut by a medical professional (Doctor, Nurse/Midwife and others)”, she explained. The women who have undergone FGM/C, are today exposed to severe and life-threatening complications, she said. “Immediately after the cutting, these girls often develop issues such as severe pain at their genitals, Serious bleeding, Infection of the wound, Trauma, Problems urinating, Tetanus and other infectious diseases, such as HIV, from unsterilized cutting tools and Death. On the long-term effect, she said the FGM could result in complications such as infections, problems having sex, depression and anxiety, painful menstrual periods, urinary problems, Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) or Recto Vaginal Fistula (RVF) and problems in childbirth (need to cut the vagina to allow delivery and the trauma that results, which is often compounded by re-stitching). Enyiazu, blamed FGM/C for the high maternal and child mortality situation in Nigeria. According to her, girls and women that have undergone FGM are 70 per cent more likely to suffer hemorrhage after giving birth and are twice as likely to die during childbirth.
“Also, FGM is linked to higher rates of infant resuscitation, stillbirth and increased risk of death during and immediately after birth”, she added. In her presentation, UNFPA Program Officer, Damilola Obinna, blamed the mother-in-laws and grandmothers for the practise adding that majority of girls are cut in their tender age, before age 1 and between 5 and 18 years. She explained how FGM violates the sexual and reproductive health and rights of the survivors, who will have to endure pain after the circumcision, during their wedding night and during childbirth. She also condemned medical professionals who engage in the practice, saying it is unacceptable.
“This harmful practice is unacceptable and should not be encouraged by anybody under any guise. Total abandonment of the practice should be preached by all”, she said. Earlier last year 2015, the Violence Against Persons prohibition law (VAPP) was established, banning the practice in the country. With the new law, the person who performs female circumcision and the person who aids the practice, could be imprisoned for four and two years respectively, if found guilty. Although the VAPP, has outlawed the practise, FGM still thrives in most States due to some traditional believes, one of them being that it protects a girls virginity and makes her not to be promiscuous after marriage, Prof. Modupe Oradeko, National President, Inter-African Committee on FGM, said.
However, a new study discovered that 99.9 per cent of prostitutes are circumcised, hence disproving this notion, she added. On other reasons for the practice, Prof. Oradeko, noted that FGM is an income generating activity for the women who perform it, and their profession brings them high status within their communities. “Also, in some places they belief that if you don’t do it, the gods will be angry, business will suffer and the girls will not find husband. Majority of FGM/ Cutting are performed on newborn during naming ceremony, on the 8-9th day, by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA’s and known as circumcisers) who uses and re-uses unsterilized instrument to perform the cutting, resulting in infection and increasing their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Because there is no anaesthesia, the place is raw, so the pain also causes them to go into shock and possibly death. It makes them to hold back their urine, and later in life, they become hypothensive, with the risk of developing kidney problem in future”.
By: Franka Osakwe
National Mirror News
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