Over 50,000 Nigerian girls die annually due to complications relating to wrong and poorly done abortions across the country as a result of lack of the Girl-Child education and awareness, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has disclosed.
The Ebonyi State chapter of NMA revealed that majority of the victims were young school girls who fell victim of pressures relating to adolescence stage as well as lack of sensitisation.
Speaking yesterday during the awareness campaign organised by the Committee on Girl-Child Education of NMA at the Model Girls’ Secondary School, Ugwuachara, Ebonyi State, NMA Chairman, Dr. Esike Chidi called on female students to take their studies very serious and avoid all distractions that often lead them astray to the level of indulging in pre-marital s3xual activities which has been the major prevalent causes of unwanted pregcies in girl children.
He stated early and pre-marital s3xual intercourse in girl children inhibit their chances of furthering their education and also expose them to various risks which includes unwanted pregcies that often lead to death of over 50,000 Nigerian girl children annually.
In her welcome address earlier, the Chairman on the occasion and Principal of Urban Model Secondary School, Abakaliki, Mrs. Nneoma Obasi, stated the programme would educate vulnerable girl children on the need to protect themselves.