Ebrima
Ansu Tamba Jammeh, who doubles as secretary to the National Council of SEYFOLU,
was speaking on Thursday in Farafenni north bank region at a sensitization
meeting on the theme: STAND AGAINST FGM and a slogan I pledge to protect my
children against FGM. The outreach campaign was organized by North Bank
Community Radio and Farafenni Community Radio stations in the North Bank
Region.
He said the president’s pronouncement on the band in 2015 demonstrated his concern for the health and well-being of women and girls.
Chief Jammeh called on the people to be vigilant and to uphold the band on the practice.
Farafenni Community Radio Program Manager Sainey Dibba, in his remarks, lauded Humanity Dignity Foundation, The Guardian and Global Multimedia Campaign in the UK for building partnership with the community radios in the region to raise public awareness on the negative effects of harmful traditional practices.
The celebration also coincided with International Advocacy day on elimination of FGM and other harmful traditional practices.
The campaign aims at popularizing the band on FGM and other harmful traditional practices to bring about sustainable health of women and girls.
Dibba calls on the public to be steadfast in protecting the health of girls, saying FGM/C is “un-Islamic and violates fundamental human rights of women.
He noted that the radio stations would continue to educate the public on negative health effects and use the platform to partner in calling on other development partners in promoting the health of women and girls.
The Farafenni Radio Program Manager lauded the intervention of donors in strengthening the capacity of radio journalists on the negative effects of harmful traditional practices.
Modoulamin Jagne, Farafenni ward councilor, thanked the organizer and donors for their foresight in complementing government efforts at raising public awareness on the band of FGM.
He said the band on the practice would protect women from all forms of violence and boost their health status.
The ward councillor renewed the call for people to always adhere to the band, saying it calls for concerted efforts of stakeholders.
Fatou Dibba, a youth activist, delivered the vote of thanks on the occasion, and assured of their support to the campaign on ending FGM. She also called on parents to desist from the practice of FGM.
The
day was also characterised by march-past and a drama performance by Group Lamp
Faal on the negative effects of FGM on girls and women.