BY RAPHAEL EKPANG
A US based Nigerian, MRS. IMO EKONG has advocated for the abolition of female circumcision in Africa, and Nigeria in particular.
In a telephone conversation with sunrisetimes.com.ng from her base in the USA , MRS. EKONG narrating her ugly ordeal said she was also a victim of this barbaric act.
” I almost lost my life because of the process; I was forced to pass through hardship to bath with water mixed with concoction (unknown substance). Even then, I was pregnant; my husband was equally humiliated for marrying me without circumcision.
“I am calling on the Nigerian government, NGOS, CSOS and the Amnesty International to address this ungodly act” she went on to say, “Even though I am away from the country my life and my family are still under threat not to talk of me returning to my community, because I refused to be circumcised.
It will be a big risk for me and my family to return to my country,” she concluded.
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION otherwise called Circumcision of a girl child is an old traditional norm in many African countries and mostly in the Southern part of Nigeria.
It is a common traditional belief that if a newly born girl child when circumcised will be relieved from sexual frivolity or wanton passion for sex.
The unfortunate practice of this primitive dogma has so many negative effects which could lead to untimely death from bleeding and the transmission of HIV/AID from the use of contaminated and unsterilized sharp objects.
Considering the religious rites and beliefs among Christian/Muslim religions even other levels of faith including Paganism, circumcision of male child is acceptable but against female child circumcision.
In the medical field, circumcision of girl child is not necessary and not encouraged, as it has several side effects.
