CESVED Holds Training For Journalist On Ending Female Genital Mutilation in Calabar

By Ogar Monday

A non-government organization, Center for Social Value and EARLY Childhood Development (CESVED) has enjoined journalist and media practitioners in Cross River state to join their voice in the fight for ending the menace of Female Genital Mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) as the consequence for its continuous practice is dire for our young girls and women.

 The president of the organization, Ms. Gift Abu, speaking said “The media remain the power of the airwave which influences all levels of the society, which is why we are asking   for a strong way for the media to help in the campaigns” against FGM.

She encouraged the media in Calabar to bring on the same intensity that the Nigerian media employed towards apartheid in South Africa, by taking the message of the ills of Female Genital Mutilation to all the nooks and cranny of the state.

 Ms. Gift reiterated that CESVED uses tools like the media training, football events, awareness campaigns with women and men, advocacy visits to traditional /religious leaders, forming fgm/c school clubs among others in its advocacy.

 Earlier speaking, a medical practitioner, Dr. Juliet Ugbom explained that female genital mutilation as distorting the natural arrangement of the female genitalia for no medical reason.  She argued that most of the reasons deduced for the practice of the act are usually to control the sexual desires of women but that has rarely helped.
Juliet held that the effects of FGM include on the victim includes; infections, VVF, complications during child birth and sometimes might lead death and advised that unless a sustained effort against the ills is maintained it will continue to claim lives.

 On the religious front, Pst. Vincent Douglas of the Rehoboth Center said the idea of Female Genital Mutilation is not rooted in the bible and Christians who practice is are doing so and bringing tradition into the sayings of God. Pst. Vincent insisted that God specifically directed Abraham to circumcise his male child and there was nowhere throughout the bible that women were asked to be circumcised.

The 2days training which held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital at the instance of CESVED and Amplify Change drew journalist from the print, electronic and online media.