The HELLO International’s She Matters Initiative said it discovered a high rate of Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) cases in Ebonyi State.
The Founder of the group, Nkiruka Agbazue, disclosed this on Thursday during a one-day sensitisation training on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in schools across the state.
The group, in collaboration with UNFPA-Youth Participatory Platform, WHO and the state Gender-Based Violence Taskforce unite to protect, empower and uplift women and girls.
Agbazue, who is also the President of the group, revealed that the prevalence rate was discovered following statistics of the condition in the state.
She said: “We are shocked to find out that the practice is still ongoing. It used to be higher in number but it is dropping now.
“FGM is a procedure that involves partial or total removal of the female external genitalia.”
She said that the group was sponsoring the repair of VVF for 20 women, adding that they would be discharged on May 30.
She said the organisation is committed to ensure that FGM and other forms of GBV were completely eradicated through advocacy, community mobilisation and survival-centre support.
Agbazue said the organisation was at the grassroots to educate schools on the consequences and impact of FGM.
She said that about 200 students were drawn from 10 schools in the three senatorial zones of the state, while teachers and traditional leaders were represented.
“We brought them for the training and expect them to carry the message back to their schools, homes and communities as well,” Agbazue said.
The UNFPA Coordinator, Cross River Sub-Office, Nancy Nwite, disclosed that the organisation committed to achieving zero maternal deaths, cases of gender-based violence and zero cases of VVF in the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Mary Otozi, urged the children to report any pressures from family and school to carry out such practices on them to relevant authorities.
The State Coordinator of GBVTF, Mrs Faithvin Nwanchor, informed the participants about sections 9 and 10 of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, which prohibits unlawful practice.
Amarachi Ukwa and Mary Ofoke, both Students and participants thanked the organisers of the programme and promised to extend the lessons learnt to their schools and communities to ensure total end to the practices in the state.
An FGM survivor, Mrs Blessing Odeh, while narrating the consequences associated with the practice, said that she was mutilated at 13 by her parent.
“My father deceived me. He made me to believe that the procedure will make me a complete woman.
“I had terrible experiences and complications during child birth and pain during sexual intercourse,” Odeh said.