By Esther Nworie
A non-governmental organization, Center for Social Value and Early Childhood Development (CESVED) has charged media workers in Ebonyi State to use their vantage position to champion the campaign against Female genital Mutilation (FGM) in the state.
The group urged the media to use its reportage to disabuse the people’s mind from practicing FGM considering its health implication on the girl child.
Speaking at a two-day training organized in Abakaliki with support from Amplify Change tagged, “Voice Out to Save the Girl Child”, President of CESVED, Gift Augustine Abu, said the training was important to bridge the gap between the traditional institution and the media.
The CESVED boss noted that it was important for the media being the bedrock of information to select choice of words in reporting FGM to avoid causing crisis among the people during sensitization and advocacy.
Abu said since journalists cannot directly caution traditional rulers against the danger of the continued practice of female genital mutilation, it is necessary for media workers to use persuasive words in their reportage.
The group said CESVED is also planning to train medical practitioners, establish EndFGM club in schools, engage town criers and also organize EndFGM football Competitions for Ebonyi youths.
Abu, a human rights activist, stressed such efforts would make the people to gain full knowledge about the harmful effect of FGM and stop the practice.
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“There is serious need why we are working towards ending FGM and also using the Media.
“I’m very shock to notice that in Ebonyi State FGM is declining. The issues of FGM are becoming lower in the prevalence rate, which means, Her Excellency, the wife of the governor, media and the stakeholders are working tirelessly towards it.
“In the schools, we form EndFGM clubs, but this projects is coming to solidify it more because this time around we are not only looking at the primary schools, we are looking at both the Secondary schools and also looking at bringing the people from the communities to participate in the football competitions.
Mr. Chika Igwe of Ebonyi Broadcasting Corporation in a presentation explained that FGM has caused more harm than good to the women across the globe.
He called on all stakeholders especially the media to add more efforts to ensure that the practice becomes a thing of the past.
