The Imo State Orientation Agency has continued its public enlightenment on the evils of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as well as the State Government’s Health Insurance Programme.
The latest outreach took place at the 30th Diocesan Women’s Conference of the Anglican Communion, Egbu Diocese, hosted at the Anglican Church of the Pentecost, Area H, New Owerri.
Before now, the Agency had visited several churches and communities across the state, sensitizing residents on the dangers of FGM and the need to enroll in the health insurance scheme for better health delivery.
Delivering the message of the Director General, Dr. Ethelbert Okere, the Head of Department, Mass Mobilization, Mrs. Nkechi Akubuiro, emphasized the health risks of female genital mutilation and urged the christian women to safeguard their families by embracing the state’s health insurance programme.
Responding, the wife of the Bishop of Egbu Diocese, Mrs. Ngozi Chioma Okoroafor, fondly called Mama Egbu, commended the Agency for its consistency in tackling harmful practices. She urged women to preserve their daughters as nature made them and pledged to ensure the campaign message is spread across all parishes in the Diocese.
Also speaking, the Vice President of Obibiezena Archdeaconry, Mrs. Nkechi Onwukwe, expressed appreciation to the Agency for using the women’s conference as a platform for advocacy. She assured that the sensitization would not end at the conference but would be extended to the grassroots, where it is most needed.
The event concluded with a joint resolve by both the Agency and the Anglican women of Egbu Diocese to strengthen the fight against FGM and advance access to quality healthcare through the state’s health insurance programme.
