Female Genital Mutilation introduced in Nigeria medical curriculum

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) has been introduced as part of the curriculum in the teaching of nurses and doctors by the Nursing Council of Nigeria (NCN) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

This is following the ugly experiences related to the old-age practice in some states in the country.
This decision was taken at a just concluded two-day media dialogue with editors, feature writers on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment in Nigeria organized by the Advocacy Unit, ChildRights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the United Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to mark the World Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Osogbo, Osun state.

The National President of Inter-Africa Committee on Harmful/Violence Practices against Women and Children (FGM), Professor Modupe Onadeko observed that there was no single benefit from female genital mutilation and cutting.

According to her, it has now become a punishable offence for any medical practitioner, be he/she a nurse or doctor to be involved in the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting, hence the Harmful/Violence Practices against Women and Children was introduced into the curriculum of the medical profession.

The practice of FGM/C is widely common in parts of south west, South-South, South East and areas located around Chad and Niger Republic extending to some areas in North-East like Kano, Abuja, Nassarawa among others where certain cultural practice has infiltrated.

SOURCE: CCTV AFRICA