Enugu First Lady’s Foundation Campaigns Against Female Genital Mutilation

Ugo’s Touch of Life Foundation (U-Tolf), a pet project of Enugu State First Lady Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, recently tasked stakeholders in the health sector to champion the eradication of female genital mutilation in Nigeria. Mrs Ugwuanyi, who spoke under the auspices of the foundation at the Okpara Square, Enugu, described the practice as harmful.

“Any harmful cultural practice should be eradicated. Female genital mutilation exposes women to infections, including HIV/Aids; difficulties during childbirth and even death. So we must carry the crusade against it to every nook and cranny of our society,” she said.

She commended donor agencies that provide health services for women and children under her foundation, and called on women to do cancer screening, adding that her foundation provides the service free of charge.

“U-Tolf will also embark on cancer screening at schools, then vaccinate those that are not infected, and treat those that are infected. We brought school girls to partner with us to catch them young in this struggle.”

A UNICEF representative Dr Benjamin Mbakwem said the United Nations had dedicated February 6 every year to sensitise the masses on the dangers of female genital mutilation. He described it as ‘any process that involves full or partial removal of female genitals’, which he described as unsafe.

A medical practitioner, Dr Andrew Otua, said, “Every 4th February is marked as the World Cancer Day. This year’s theme is ‘We Can’.

The increasing rate of cervical and breast cancers in Nigeria is alarming and calls for concerted efforts to tackle. There are vaccines against cervical cancer. After screening, if one is not negative, vaccines are administered. If one is negative, the person begins the treatment. U-Tolf has a cancer screening centre at the Old Government Lodge.”