The Federal Government has condemned the harmful and barbaric practice of breast ironing being meted out on young girls in the villages in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country..
This is as the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, a lawyer, expressed worry over the practice on teenage girls residing at Kpaduma and Pygba communities of the FCT, citing damaging and health impacts on them.
The minister, who stated this while on an advocacy and sensitisation visit to Garki Chiefdom, Abuja Municipal Council, stressed the need to sensitize the community on effects of breast ironing and why it should be eradicated.
According to a statement signed by her Special Assistant, Media, Ohaeri Joseph, the practice falls within gender-based violence.
She solicited the partnership of the Garki District Heads and other local authorities towards eradicating the practice, as it negates the “renewed hope” agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which aims to improve the welfare of women and the girl child.
She said: “Breast ironing, which is being practised on some young girls as traditional rites meant to prevent early male attraction, rape, among others, are practices that are totally unacceptable and form part of condemnable and harmful practices against the female gender which must be stamped out.
“This age-long tradition could lead to cancer on the affected girls as it is capable of leading to nipple challenges in their future life as well as the production of sour breast milk for their infants which is dangerous to the growth and development of new born babies.”
Responding, the District Head of Garki Chiefdom, Ambassador Emmanuel Gade, assured that the Council will support the efforts of government towards bringing to an end the tradition and other forms of harmful practices against the female gender.
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