UNICEF estimates disruption of COVID-19 could result in 2m cases of FGM.

COVID-19 disruption, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), could greatly increase genital multiplication to about 2 million cases globally by 2030, a situation that would have been predicted if not for the pandemic.

Mrs. Maureen Zubie-Okolo, Officer in-Charge, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, made the revelation on Friday during a one-day media briefing in Enugu State on the 2022 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation.

The briefing was hosted by the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) in Umuahia, in collaboration with UNICEF. Female genital mutilation (FGM) affects about 4.16 million girls and women worldwide, according to Okolo.

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Reiterating this year’s theme -“Accelerating Investment to End Female Genital Mutilation”, Mrs. Okolo warned that FGM is on the rise among Nigerian girls aged 0-14.

She noted that the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, “reminds us that we are not alone in this work and that we need to accelerate efforts- especially with families and communities, to achieve a Nigeria safe for girls and women and finally free of FGM”.

She said the rate of FGM practice has risen from 16.9 percent in 2013 to 19.2 percent in 2018, adding that FGM remains widespread in Nigeria, with an estimated 19.9 million survivors. “Nigeria accounts for the third highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide”, she added.

The Officer in-charge, stated that the national prevalence of FGM among women in Nigeria, aged 15-49 dropped from 25 percent in 2013 to 20 percent in 2018, while prevalence among girls aged O-14 increased from 16.9 percent to 19.2 percent in the same year.

She noted that across Nigeria, there are disparities in the practice. “State prevalence ranges from 62 percent in Imo to less than 1 percent in Adamawa and Gombe. The prevalence of FGM is highest in the South East (35 percent) and South West (30 percent) and the lowest in the North East (6 percent).

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“UNICEF is initiating a community-led movement to eliminate FGM in five Nigerian states where it is highly prevalent: Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Osun and Oyo. Nearly 3 million girls and women would have undergone FGM in these states in the last five years,” she stated.

She said that FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of human rights of girls and women, describing it is an extreme form of discrimination against girls and women- rights to health, security and physical integrity, right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and right to life, in situations where the procedure results in death.

In his welcome address, the Director General of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, Sir Anyaso Anyaso, noted that accelerated and increased investment in women and girls is key to elimination of FGM.

He emphasized that FGM comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, adding that girls who undergo female genital mutilation face short-term complications such as severe pain, shock, excessive bleeding, infections, and difficulty in passing urine, as well as long-term consequences for their sexual and reproductive health and mental health.

“This year’s FGM theme, is seeking for collectively investment of human and capital resources in the fight against the obnoxious and harmful FGM practice”, he added.

In his presentation, titled “FGM Practice in Nigeria” Mr. Victor Atuchukwu, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, stated that treating FGM would cost USD 1.4billion per year globally, if all resulting medical were addressed.

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“If no action is taken, it is estimated that these cost will soar by 50% as population grow as more girls undergo the procedure,” he added.