Health

By Kennedy Nnamani

AS the most populous black nation of the world, Nigeria has often been categorized as one of the countries of the world with rich and enduring cultures, which include extended family practice, prolonged breast feeding, adequate care for nursing mothers, and communalism among others. But behind this wall are some negative and abhorrent practices that infringe on the rights and dignity of the Nigerian people.

Fortunately, modernity and the numerous campaigns by many Non-Governmental Organizations, private bodies, international organizations, academic institutions and religious organisations against somes of the barbaric practices associated with these cultural practices have reduced. But some still find their ways to operate, especially in the rural areas where these practices are often fueled by traditional religious beliefs.

Pauline Tallen, the minister of women affairs, have severally decried these practices. There are legislations against some of these practices but traditional and religious beliefs are working against their implementation in the rural areas.

“Although the government has undertaken a number of health reforms, including laws against harmful traditional practices, many cultural and religious practices still put the health of women in doldrums.

“I wish to state that the ministry is committed to abolishing all traditional practices that endanger the health and dignity of girls and womanhood in Nigeria and in this regard, will work more with the ministry of health,” Tallen said.

In addition, an Abuja based educational psychologist stated that these practices still linger because it is very difficult to unlearn and relearn, especially in a society where education is not valued by all.

“Until quality and right education gets to the grassroots where these practices are still honoured, we may not totally get out of this dilemma because people that still do this are those who have been brought up in the same belief. It is very difficult to unlearn and relearn new doctrine,” he said.

Some of these practices include Efidan tradition (tribal marks) where some parts of the body are cut for the sake of being recognized as part of a family or tribe or ethnic group, Nutrition violence; that is forcefully closing the nose of a child while feeding him with liquid food, forced marriage; which is forcefully and intentionally giving out a grown lady to a man for marriage, acid attacks; practiced in the northern Nigeria where a woman is attacked with acid for promiscuity, stoning of women, stripping a woman naked for promiscuity, Preference of male child over girl child, female genital mutilation among others.

According to the recent data on the subject by   …. most of these practices are not supported by the Nigerian laws and there are directly or indirectly focusing on women and the girl child.

Recently, in Anambra state in south-eastern Nigeria, a married woman suffered a humiliating treatment, when she stripped naked and paraded round the village by fellow women for allegedly causing the death of her husband. When interviewed, the woman explained that she was forced to accept and testify before a shrine that she cheated on her husband and thereby caused his death. Meanwhile she explained that her husband was suffering from heart related issues and that his death could have resulted from the scuffle he had with his brother.

However, a Non-governmental Organization, the Anti-Child Abuse Society of Africa, ACASA, has taken its campaign to a rural community in the north central region of Nigeria to raise awareness on different forms of child abuse and to campaign against inhuman treatment of children and other harmful traditional practices.

According to UNICEF, about 650 million girls and women around the world today have been married as children and more than 200 million have been subjected to female genital mutilation.

Augustine Egwu, a sociologist attributed some suicide cases to the ripple effects of some of these practices. He explained that some of these practices are directly targeted to the feminine gender and causing stigmatization which some of the victims may not be able to handle.

There is therefore an urgent need for a national campaign geared towards promoting good traditional practices and putting an end to the harmful practices that impinge on the rights of the individual to a decent life, liberty and freedom to pursue his vision and improve his or her wellbeing.

KN

Tags: Augustine Egwu Kennedy Nnamani Pauline Tallen