Campaign on the protection of human rights of the girl child begins in Anambra State

THE Anambra State government has shown commitment toward the plight of the girl-child as campaigns for  the Girl Child Rights kicks off in the state.

Joe Akabuike, commissioner for Health, said this at Community High School, Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, LGA, while addressing students from not less than 21 Secondary Schools during the event.

Akabuike spoke on significance of creating awareness on Girl-Child Rights and some issues facing the girl child like early marriages, educations, nutrition, equality, legal and medical rights.

He stressed the need for the girl child to have self-esteem as it would elevate and exalt her to levels, where good grades could not take her.

The commissioner noted the importance of educating a girl as it is said: “When you train a girl, you train a nation’’.

He stressed the need to discourage early girl child marriage “as it deprives them of their wonderful future’’.

In an opening remark, Uchechukwu Onyejimbe said the campaign would enlighten the girl child on her rights to make life meaningful.

“It will also create inclusive, accessible school training and learning opportunities to empower girls.’’

Onyejimbe noted that the ministry would use the opportunity to direct adolescent boys and girls on health issues concerning them.

Nkiru Akabuike, lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, who delivered a lecture on “Peer- To- Peer Youth Health Education’’, described education as an essential ingredient of life.

She urged girls to make wise choices of selecting good friends that would add value to their lives.

The event featured some other presentations to include drugs/alcohol abuse, sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents.

Others are pregnancy prevention and contraceptive choices for adolescents and burden of diseases due to chronic health conditions in adolescents.

The campaign also witnessed a walk to Afor Market, Nanka for proper sensitisation, cultural dance and presentation of gifts to participating schools.

In her closing remarks, the Programme Officer Adolescent Reproductive Health, Mrs Amaka Okoye commended participants and urged them to put all they have learnt into good use.

She said that other communities would also be sensitised on ‘Girl Child Rights’.

– Mar. 1, 2019 @ 10:55 GMT |