FG inaugurates committee to eliminate FGM practices in Nigeria

<h2>The Federal Government and other stakeholders have inaugurated a ministerial ad hoc committee to eliminate the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria.</h2>, <p>Director of Family health, stated that the committee is expected to work with the national technical committee which is the central coordinating and advisory body to the Federal Ministry of Health on issues of FGM toward implementing activities to eliminate the menace.</p>, <span>FG inaugurates committee to eliminate FGM practices in Nigeria (Credit: NAN)</span>, <p>The committee was inaugurated on Monday, August 1, 2023 in Abuja by the Director, Family Health, Ministry of Health, Dr Boladele Alonge. Alonge was represented by Dr John Ovuoraye, the Head of Gender, Adolescent School Health and Elderly Care (GASHE) division of the ministry.</p>, <p>She said it was estimated that globally at least 200 million girls and women have been subjected to the practice of FGM. Alonge added that about 10% of the number of those affected reside in Nigeria.</p>, <p>She added that “although the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reported a decline in the national prevalence of the practice between 2013 and 2018, some three million girls and women are still at risk.”</p>, <p>She defined FGM as all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. According to her, the act is a violation of the human rights of women and girls.</p>, <p>Alonge said that the National Policy and Plan of Action for the Elimination of FGM provided a clear plan to guide activities of different stakeholders in all fields. It also provided a clear plan to guide systems and practices, including request that attention be given to identified emerging hotspot states, she added.</p>, <p>She explained that “the purpose is to ensure that men and women, boys and girls in all their diversity are well informed on the dangers of the practice of FGM and be fully involved in the elimina