ABUJA – The Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NiMSA) on Friday blamed the major cause of cervical cancer and other sexually transmitted diseases in the world on early marriage.
The President of the association, Mr Eche Ugochukwu, disclosed this in Abuja during a summit tagged: “Women an Endangered Species and the Role of Medics’’.
Ugochukwu explained that under aged girls reproductive system had been scientifically proved as not matured enough for marriage, adding that engaging them in such practices exposed them to dangers.
The president, who described women as special breed decried the way their rights were being violated in terms of reproduction, sexual violence, education, and genital mutilation among others.
He condemned early marriages of children in the northern part of the country, adding that it had resulted to the increasing rate of maternal mortality.
Ugochukwu said that women were always the targets anytime people wanted to perpetrate violence or evil against the society. [eap_ad_2] According to him, the men always regard women as weaklings.
The president called for quick passage of legislation on the rights of women with regard to the protection of their reproductive rights, health as well as against child marriage.
According to him, with the passage, women will have their rightful place in the society in terms of education and female genital mutilation, among others.
Ugochuckwu identified the role of medics to include correction of the trend through advocacy and sensitisation.
“Women are special breed that need extra care. It is pathetic seeing them any time people want to perpetrate violence and evil act that they target it at women. This is wrong.
“One of the predispose factors of cervical cancer in the world is early marriage.
“Other sexual diseases centre on when the reproductive system of a girl child have not matured enough for getting into sexual practice.
“This practice is wrong, ethically, medically, premature marriage is wrong. It is something all of us must guard against.
“The only way to move the nation and the society forward is by kicking against the unwholesome practice and let women have their pride of place in the society,’’ he said.
Speaking at the event, Dr Titus Ibekwe, a member of the Nigerians Medical Association, said that the protection of women’s rights was concerted efforts of all.
Ibekwe said that training a woman was as good as training the family and the entire nation, adding that there should be gender equality in the entire sector of economy. (NAN) [eap_ad_3]
