Hacey Health Initiative educates students on FGM/C in Osun
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Hacey Health Initiative said over 125 million girls and women alive today in almost 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East have been a victim of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting (FGM/C).
The Representative of the Hacey, Mr Ayo Alabi, said this while presenting prizes to the winners of essay competition on end Female Genital Mutilation in Osogbo, Osun state.
He appreciated the efforts of the students for their participation in the Essay Competition, saying that two boys were among the winners.
Alabi appreciated the efforts of the government in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation in the state, saying that the participation of younger ones in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation would make them to have the deep knowledge of the crisis.
However, Hacey Health Initiative noted that annually, over 3million girls are at the risk of being subjected to FGM/C affirming that FGM/C is a violation of basic human rights of the women and girls made to undergo the practice.
It noted that there are laws and policies to prohibit FGM/C in Osun state but the awareness of these laws are very low.
According to the Initiative, only 29.4 percent, 18.5 percent and 4.5 percent of the women in Osun, Ekiti and Oyo respectively were aware of the existence of the Laws and policies.
HACEY Health Initiative is a development organization focused on improving the health and productivity of vulnerable and underserved populations in Africa.
In the past 14 years, the organization has worked with UNFPA, Path USA, Empower UK, Amplify UK, the Nigerian government and other private sector partners to implement various girl child and women’s rights related projects.
Also in a bid to educate students in Osun, Oyo and Ekiti states on the issues of Female Genital Mutilation and its laws, an essay competition was launched in three states and 5 winners each were selected from three States making 15 winners in all, with over 700 entries received.
Speaking at the occasion the Special Adviser to the Governor of Osun state on Education, Alhaji Jamiu Olawumi stressed that despite the existence of the Laws against FGM/C and law enforcement agencies, very few women were willing to report a case of FGM/C in their community.
He pointed out that whistle-blowing policy could encourage an increase in reporting, while appreciating the efforts of the HACEY for coming up with the initiative, but hoped that other civil-societies would follow the good step of the HACEY.
Olawumi however was of the opinion that very soon the problem of FGM/C would soon be put to an end, while advising students not to join bad gangs but for them to come out in flying colors in their future endeavours.
Meanwhile, this year Osun state end Female Genital Mutilation Essay Competition winners are Olakunle Michael Adebayo, Afolabi Titilayo, Ayoade Oyindamola, Iyanda Torialemi and Adeoye Joshua, all from Fakunle Comprehensive High School Osogbo, Osun state.
