As part of its 50th anniversary celebration plans, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says it will empower about 200 girls with skills acquisition in Cross River.
Mr Kenneth Ehouzou, the Head of Office, UNFPA in Calabar, made this known in an interview on Friday, in Calabar.
Ehouzou said that the girls, who would also be given start-up kits, would be mentored until the goal of the programme was achieved.
He said the beneficiaries would be chosen from Obanliku, Calabar South and other communities in Calabar municipality local councils soon.
“We have identified these areas and we will give opportunity to the girls to get out of their present conditions. We need more safe spaces, information and services for our women and girls.
“In Cross River, there are some issues that are affecting the girl-child, which require the attention of the leadership at all levels.
“We still have many issues concerning marriages in Obanliku and female genital mutilation in pockets of communities in Ikom.
“There is also the issue of access to family planning and contraceptives. We have been working with the state government to ensure these issues are tackled,” he said.
Ehouzou, who said that girls needed to protect their bodies, added that those with Human Immune Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) would be given adequate services.
“We have launched a global strategy entitled “My body, My life, My World”. We urge everyone to go through that strategy because it gives a direction to what we need to do for the girl-child.
“We are also trying to address the issue of Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF), which is still present in Cross River. We have seen progress in this area, but more still need to be done with the limited resources.
“Our partnership with the state government has had its ups and downs; we just need to keep an open communication line with government to get things done,” he said.
UNFPA, formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, is a UN organisation founded in 1969.
The organisation has, of recent, been known for its worldwide campaign against child marriage, obstetric fistula and female genital mutilation.
