By Janet A Sesay
Team Sierra Leone headed by Lawyer Zachariah Zibo Kanu and two others on Thursday 18th June, 2020 at the Jasmine Primary School at Congo Town in Central Freetown lectured twenty-five (25) girls and five boys on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the dangerous of the novel Coronavirus taking its toll on people the world over.
In his lecture, Lawyer Kanu disclosed that Team Sierra Leone has its support from an international organization based in Ireland, to help fight the harmful practice of FGM and its adverse effects on little girls in society.
He averred that FGM is not harmful but the cutting of the body which, he said, is very much harmful to young girls and they should therefore not accept the practice. The legal luminary added that some women have joined the ‘Bondo’ society without being cut and referred to it as “a very good practice.” He lamented that the cutting of the body part has led to so many young girls having complications that could lead to death or barrenness.
After Lawyer Kanu’s lecture on the issue of FGM, the five boys then joined the lecture on the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic and how to steam its spread.
Lawyer Kanu explained the meaning of the pandemic and taught them about the signs and symptoms of the disease. He then pleaded with the children to inculcate the practice of hand-washing, wearing of facemasks, social distances and to avoid large crowds.
He further pleaded with them not to get involved in any negative practices that could affect them after the COVID-19 outbreak, and also entreated them to be studying at home so that when schools reopens they will not find it difficult to continue with their learning.
The children described the lecture as “very interesting and interactive” as they were very excited to learn about the two important issues.