*says it affects 200million Women, Girls Worldwide , 19.9million in Nigeria
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Director Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, Professor Oladosu Ojengbede on Thursday advocated collaborative efforts at eliminating Gender Based Violence (GBV) .
Speaking at the International Day for the elimination of Violence against Women and Girls organised by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Oyo state chapter, Professor Ojengbede hinted that at least 200million women and girls worldwide were victims of GBV .
Presenting his paper with the topic ” Let’s end GBV focus on FGM “, Professor Ojengbede stressed thatadditional 3 million Women and Girls undergo it annually worldwide while Nigeria has the world highest FGM.
The Director Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, pointed out that in Nigeria, 25% or 19.9million Nigerian girls and women of 15 to 49years old were subjected to Female Genital Mutilation between 2004 and 2015 with the Southern part of country having the prevalence.
Professor Ojengbede stressed that considering the negative impacts of GBV especially FGM to the women and girls, the time has come to eliminate it worldwide through global strategy against FGM through Community mobilization, Education, creating awareness and platform for training of health care professional against change , manage complications to save life as well as manage the psychological and sexual complications.
He gave other possible ways as through legal reform, review of national laws, regulations of policies, procedures and practices including traditional and cultural practices.
Executive Director of HACEY Health Initiative, Nigeria, Ms Rhoda Robinson while speaking disclosed that over 20 million women and girls in Nigeria are subjected to Female Genital Mutilation, (FGM).
She maintained that there is the urgent need to eradicate GBV especially FGM in the society considering its negative effects on Women and Girls .
Oyo state NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Jadesola Ajibola while welcoming participants to the programme emphasized that Oyo NAWOJ is committed into fighting against Gender Based Violence as well as ensuring other forms of violence against women and the girls.
” We must talk the talk, we must end violence against women. We must come to liberate our society and save the country from going down. We have a responsibility, how and what do you do to a girl Nigerian girl child. It is no longer business as usual”, she said
Comrade Ajibola emphasized that Oyo NAWOJ under her leadership would be more committed and focused in the fight against rape and other forms of violence on women and girls.
