By Franca Ofili

World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for urgent measures “to curtail rising medicalisation of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)” and to engage health workers to prevent the practice.

The world body made the call in a new guideline published on April 25.

According to it, while the health sector plays key role in stopping FGM and supporting survivors in several parts of the world, evidence suggests the practice is now increasingly performed by health workers.

The organisation noted that in 2020, an estimated 52 million girls and women were subjected to FGM at the hands of health workers.

The organisation added that “the new WHO guideline, titled “The Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation and Clinical Management of Complications”, provides recommendations to both prevent the practice and ensure evidence-based care for survivors.

“It covers actions for the health sector, governments and affected communities,’’ it said.

Dr Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, said FGM is a severe violation of girls’ rights and critically endangers their health, adding that the health sector must be agent for change, rather than perpetrator of the harmful practice.

“Health practitioners must also provide high quality medical care for those suffering its effects,” Allotey said.

Typically carried out on young girls before they reach puberty, FGM includes all procedures that remove or injure parts of the female genitalia for non-medical reasons, she said.

She added that “evidence shows that no matter who performs FGM, it causes harm.

“Some studies suggest it can even be more dangerous when performed by health workers, since it can result in deeper, more severe cuts.

“Its medicalisation also risks unintentionally, legitimising the practice and may jeopardise broader efforts to abandon the practice.”

She said that for these reasons, WHO’s new guideline recommended professional codes of conduct that expressly prohibit health workers from performing FGM.

Ms Christina Pallitto, the Scientist at WHO, said research shows that health workers can be influential opinion leaders in changing attitude on FGM, and play crucial roles in its prevention.

She said “engaging doctors, nurses and midwives should be a key element in FGM prevention and response, as countries seek to end the practice and protect the health of women and girls.

“The guidelines highlight the need for community education and information, alongside effective laws and policies.

“Community awareness activities that involve men and boys can be effective in increasing knowledge about FGM, promoting girls’ rights and supporting attitudinal change,’’ Pallitto said.

According to her, given the extent of both short and long-term health issues that result from the practice, survivors may need a range of health services at different life stages.

She said that it would start from mental healthcare to management of obstetric risks and, where appropriate, surgical repairs.

“Evidence shows that with the right commitment and support, it is possible to end FGM.

“Countries like Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Ethiopia have seen reductions in prevalence among 15 to 19-year-olds over the past 30 years by as much as 50 per cent, 35 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, through collective action and political commitment to enforce bans and accelerate prevention,’’ she said.

According to her, the likelihood of a girl undergoing genital mutilation has decreased threefold since 1990.

“However, it remains common in some 30 countries around the world, and an estimated four million girls each year are still at risk,’’ she added. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Stellamaris Ashinze/Vivian Ihechu

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) have explained how Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) compromises the ability to treat infections, protect patients, and ensure effective outbreak responses.

They spoke on Monday at the Lessons Learned for Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop, organised by NAS and the U.S. National Academy of Medicine in Lagos.

According to the World Health Organisation, AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines.

As a result, infections become difficult or impossible to treat, increasing the risks of disease spread, severe illness, disability, and death.

NCDC’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, stated that the agency, as Nigeria’s National Public Health Institute, had witnessed firsthand how AMR undermined treatment efforts and public health responses.

“AMR is no longer an emerging threat; it is a daily reality that demands bold, science-driven, and multisectoral action,” Idris said.

According to him, Nigeria’s decision to host the meeting in Lagos reflects its commitment to advancing AMR response, recognising the growing threat that spans from communities to hospitals, farms, and ecosystems.

While highlighting a significant proposal, Idris said: “The establishment of an independent panel on evidence for action against AMR represents a turning point.

“It offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between knowledge and action, ensuring that evidence is not only generated but trusted, inclusive, and acted upon.”

He urged participants to view the gathering as the beginning of a legacy of evidence-driven solutions, calling for inclusivity and a focus on creating practical, context-sensitive tools for action.

Idris also praised NAS, the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, and the Quadripartite Organisations for their leadership in advancing global AMR governance.

“The Nigerian Academy of Science has consistently provided independent, rigorous, and context-relevant advice to guide national decision-making across various sectors,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines, Dr Doyin Odubanjo, Executive Secretary of NAS, described AMR as a “wicked problem” requiring global cooperation to solve.

He stressed the urgent need for international awareness and action to mitigate AMR, particularly given the complex challenges already posed by infectious and non-infectious diseases.

Odubanjo explained that the meeting aimed to gather a global delegation of experts to discuss establishing an independent advisory panel on AMR, with the goal of raising awareness and driving change toward combating antimicrobial resistance.

He emphasised the importance of prevention, rational drug use, and understanding the social and cultural drivers of self-medication.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in September 2024, the United Nations General Assembly called on quadripartite organisations to establish an independent panel for evidence-based action against AMR by 2025.

The panel’s mission is to “facilitate the generation and use of multi-sectoral, scientific evidence to support member states in their efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa