Those who use ?vaseline? to press down or massage the clitoris of female babies ignorantly indulge in female genital mutilation/cutting, according to Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia, according to a Public Health Consultant, Dr Chimezie Obasi.

This is as UNICEF has expressed concern over the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting in the South-East region of Nigeria, particularly Imo and Ebonyi said to be on the lead.

The Public Health expert, who presented a paper at a UNICEF zonal media dialogue in Enugu held as part of activities marking this year?s Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, FGM/C, day, argued that any alteration of the clitoris is of no medical value, and should be discouraged.

The media dialogue was organised by UNICEF, Enugu field office in partnership with the Broadcast Corporation of Abia (BCA).

Dr Obasi regretted that despite campaigns against the barbaric practice, some mothers still indulge in it out of ignorance and misinformation.

He declared that ?FGM /C has no health benefits and amounts to gross violation of the fundamental rights of girls and women.?

Buttressing his point further, he said that God only recommended circumcision for male children and not female, arguing that if it were of any health benefit, the all-knowing God would equally have included females in the directive.

He, therefore, advised parents against tampering with the clitoris of their female babies for whatever reason, insisting that it should be left in its natural state.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has said that about 1.4 billion US dollars is spent annually across the globe in the management of complications arising from FGM/C.

Some of the complications include excessive bleeding, infections, urination problems, sexual dysfunction, severe pain and chronic pain.

Others include menstrual problems, childbirth complications, surgery complications, depression, anxiety and emotional distress among others.

According to UNICEF, over 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM/C.

?FGM/C involves intentional procedures that alter or injure the female genital organs for nonmedical reasons. It is recognized internationally as a human rights violation?, Dr Obasi said.

He dismissed as ridiculous the various excuses adduced by the perpetrators of FGM/C, saying they have no medical backup.

Dr Obasi called for increased media awareness and education of the public on the dangers of FGM/C.

Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Enugu, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, decried the persistence of FGM/C in the South East despite campaigns against the harmful practice.

Identifying Imo and Ebonyi States as the worst hit, the UNICEF boss urged for more action to stop the unbeneficial practice.

She said: ?We still have unacceptable prevalence rates across the Southeast states, with Imo state ranking 1 at 38?% prevalence among women age l5-49 years and 9.7% prevalence among girls age 0-14 years. Similarly, prevalence among women age 15-49 years in Ebonvi, Abia, Enugu and Anambra states stands at 20.4%, 20.3%, 19% and 13.1% respectively. For girls aged 0-14 years, prevalence stands at 3.7%, 3.0%, 2.1% and 0.29% respectively for Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Ebonyi states (MICS 2021).?

Speaking earlier, the Communications Officer, UNICEF Field Office Enugu, Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, solicited the support of the media in the campaign against FGM/C.

She appealed to media practitioners to be more deliberate in using their various platforms to sensitise members of the public about the dangers of the barbaric and harmful practice. (Vanguard)

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