By Amby Uneze
As the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) marks the FGM Day, which is celebrated the world over on February 6 annually, communities in Aboh Mbaise local government area of Imo State have vowed to eliminate the obnoxious practice in their areas.
Speaking to our Correspondent who went round to some of the communities in the council area, some traditional rules, presidents general, religious leaders and women leaders in the areas visited chorused in one voice against the practice and cautioned their people to stop it once and for all.
The visit to some of these communities afforded our Correspondent the opportunity to ascertain the level of compliance with sensitization and practice against the FGM by the indigenes of the Aboh Mbaise, and it was observed that this negative practice has drastically reduced with almost 95% compliance.
This year's theme, “Her Voice, Her Future” as highlighted by UNICEF was the message these stakeholders felt there was need to draw the attention of the people to give girls and women the voice to shape their future, noting that healthy women produces healthy society.
In his remark, the Chairman of Aboh Mbaise Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, Eze Marcellenus Waturuocha advised mothers and future parents to desist from practicing female genital mutilation (circumcision) of their female babies as such act is not only dangerous and harmful to their health but is capable of affecting their marriages in future.
The traditional ruler disclosed that a resolution has been adopted to report culprits to the state government and other relevant agencies for appropriate sanction. He stressed that mechanism has been put in place to fish out the community members engaging in this ugly practice.
The monarch also vowed to bring to the notice of the authorities any person caught practicing FGM as such is a criminal offense liability with some penalties.
A community leader in the area, Chief Ugo Nwachukwu reminded the people of the benefits enjoyed by female that did not pass through the process of having their genitalia mutilated or tempered with as such women do enjoy their marital union as well as having problem-free delivery of their babies.
In the same vein, a Catholic clergy promised to draw the message to the ears of the congregants during Sunday masses, adding that with modern technology in place, there is no more place for the practice of such mundane and illegal act in the present society.
The priest disclosed that a surveillance team has been established in each community, to watch out for members of his congregation that indulgences in such negative act, as they will not tolerate a situation where individuals engage in practices that has been abolished within the communities.
He submitted that the congregation has gone ahead to obtain the birth certificate of every girl child and monitor same to ensure that they are not subjected to FGM and to report those found guilty of it to law enforcement Agencies for possible arrest and prosecution.
A woman leader, Mrs. Carolina Amadi expressed satisfaction of the level of compliance in the communities, ascribing the success to the efforts of the UNICEF and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the media who have been creating awareness the people.
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