The pledge was made during a series of interactive meetings in Oru East, Oru West, Nwangele, and Nkwerre. The events were organised by Virgin Heart Foundation with support from UNICEF and UNFPA.

Traditional rulers, women and youth leaders, presidents-general, religious leaders, and gender advocates all came together to discuss the way forward.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Virgin Heart Foundation, Peace Dike, praised the commitment of the communities. She said the joint effort would play a major role in achieving a female genital mutilation-free Imo State by 2030.

The Eze of Ofekata III, Eze Stanley, also condemned the health and social effects of the practice, pledging to work with his people to end it. Experts from Ebonyi State explained the dangers of FGM, linking it to childbirth complications, fistula, and other health problems.

Officials from the National Orientation Agency and the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs assured their support, saying the government is ready to back the campaign until the harmful practice is gone.

Children living with medical conditions such as autism should not be stigmatized, abandoned, or branded as witches but treated as special persons deserving love and care, health advocates in Cross River State have cautioned.

The call was made during the 6th edition of the Walkathon exercise organised by the Billionaires Health Club in Calabar to draw attention and support for children with autism and related neuro-disorders.

Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, who led the six-kilometre walk around major streets of Calabar, recalled that in the past, children with autism were abandoned in “evil forests” due to superstitious beliefs.

He noted that science has since proved that autism is a medical condition, not witchcraft, urging parents to give affected children greater attention.

Chairman of the club, Mr. William Archibong Jr, said the initiative, carried out in partnership with other health clubs, was designed to raise awareness and secure government and community support.

“We want people to appreciate these special children and for authorities to afford them the medical care they deserve,” he said.

Archibong Jr explained that the club adopts one health issue of public concern each year for advocacy.

He noted that since their first walk during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have drawn government and public attention to a range of health challenges.

He further appealed to the public to stop stigmatizing or demeaning children with autism, stressing that the condition is a global concern and not peculiar to Cross River State.

At the Millennium Park, where the walk ended, several health experts and professionals delivered health talks and offered advisory services to parents and caregivers on better ways to manage autism and other neuro-disorders.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has provided an update on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike’s approval for the payment of health workers’ allowances.

The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Secretariat, Dr Dolapo Fasawe, gave the update while addressing reporters in Abuja on Friday.

Fasawe also confirmed that 37 doctors have already been employed.

She said that the plan is to hire close to 300 more healthcare professionals in the shortest possible time.

Fasawe, however, stressed that the necessary bureaucratic procedures would be followed in implementing the Minister’s approval to ensure a lasting solution and mitigate future agitation by FCT health workers.

According to her, “In every organization, both public and private sectors, there is documentation, there is uploading, there is verifying, there is ensuring that the payment system is not distorted and this is not a one-time payment.

“The good thing about the Minister’s approval is that we will not have this agitation again. For his approvals to be sustainable, we need time for administrative purposes.

“I cannot give you a definite time but I can tell you for example, the low hanging fruits like employing more doctors is already in effect.

“He has given a large number. As of today, 37 doctors out of that number have been employed and we are in the process of employing close to 300 healthcare workers.”

“In the shortest possible time, this is a priority to the Minister; every allowance will be paid so that we do not come back to this agitation again next year.

“We have to put in place sustainable systems to ensure that these people are paid automatically. That is why it cannot be a quick fix and next year we are back to this table again discussing doctors’ strike”, she stated.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr Osundayo Tope Zenith thanked the FCT Minister for his kind heart in acceding to the requests of the Association of Resident Doctors.