UNICEF reaffirms commitment to support FG
Gloria Akudoro, Abuja.
The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has reaffirmed its commitment to continue to support the Ministry of Women Affairs in the area of Child Right Act before the next council meeting.
Mr Ibrahim Sesay, UNICEF Child Protection Officer, gave the assurance at Uyo during his lecture on the theme “Gender equality: A panacea for enduring security and sustainable economic recovery in the post COVID-19 era.
Today being the 3rd day of the 21st Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs, the UNICEF reaffirmed that the agency would go further in supporting the ministry in deliverable services particularly on violence against the children.
“The economic value of violence against girls and women in Nigeria is too worrisome, we will support the Federal Government in this area,” Sesay said.
Speaking at the ongoing sessions of the women council meeting, Dr Omolaso Omosehin, Head of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) disclosed that Nigeria accounts for 40 per cent Fistula cases around the globe. He noted that UNFPA has a roburst Fistula project in Nigeria, a lot still needs to be done.
“Government support is needed in the area of Obstetric Fistula to reduce the rate of women dieing as a result of prolong child birth.
“Nigeria accounts for 40 per cent of Fistula cases around the World, UNFPA is undertaken up to 3000 repair cases per year in Nigeria.
“The main causes of Obstetric Fistula is prolonged labour due to early marriage by underage girls, sexual violence, harmful traditional practice and unskilled birth attendance.
“UNFPA have a total of 12, 560 cases to support, out of this figure, 5,000 cases have been successfully repaired and established economically,” he said.
Omosehin also enumerated the challenges faced in reducing Fistula cases to include poor political will, lack of national data base and weak health systems among others.
In the same vein, Mrs Omotayo Thomas, President of Widows and Support Society of Africa, called for more chances for women to showcase their talents, adding that, women must be valued and must not be treated like animals.
“We need to build a structure that can help the women recover, we need to build public support for women and recovery policies in order to help women to be safe.We must be trained in different skill acquisition,” Thomas pleaded.
In his remark, Bridgedial General, Christiana Thomas, the Gender Adviser to Chief of Defence Staff, stated that the Nigerian Army are gender sensitive as there are many women in the system.
“The Army is already observing gender equality and there are a lot of women in the army forces,” he said.
Highlight of the event is the presentation of Certificate of Recognition to delegates who were punctual and actively contributed to healthy consideration of the memoranda by the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi.
Highlight of the event is the recognition certificate presented to delegates who were punctual and actively contributed to healthy consideration of the memoranda by the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi during the ongoing 21st National Council Meeting at Uyo, Akwa Ibom on Wednesday.
