As the world celebrates this 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD), a Non-Governmental Organisation in Nigeria, (NGO) Mairo Maryam Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (MMAWT) Legacy Initiative has called for actions that would stop and reverse the progression of mental illness and other issues affecting women and girls.
The Founder of the Initiative, Hajya Mairo Maryam Tambuwal, who spoke in an event to mark the 2021 International Women Day, explained that paying attention to mental illness, depression and different forms of trauma is a crucial part of recovery from the prevailing challenges facing Nigerian women and girl child.
She attributed the development to the harsh realities that the coronavirus global pandemic and the current spate of insecurity meted out on women and girls in communities especially in Northern Nigeria.
The NGO urged stakeholders to pay much attention to the surge in cases of mental illness, depression and trauma among women, girls and other victims of these vices.
She noted that, the United Nations theme for 2021, “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a Post-Covid World” is apt, adding that the global campaign theme #ChooseToChallenge are all indications that everyone has a role to play in creating a better environment for women and girls to thrive in the society.
The MMAWT founder, who is also the Wife of Sokoto State Governor, Aminu WaziriTambuwal said as part of her campaign to mark International Women’s Day and Women’s History in the Month of March, the Initiative has launched series of advocacy efforts for women, girls and children to get support from stakeholders in the country.
According to her: “While the rest of the world is slowly recovering from the devastation of the pandemic, we in the North are grappling with a lot of vices, ranging from incessant kidnap of school children, with girls often being the target to communities losing their source of livelihoods because they do not have access to their farms.
“The International Women’s Day presents another opportunity to us as a people to take actions that will finally put an end to the pains and suffering women and girls go through.
“Mental health is an important aspect of our socio-economic lives. So paying attention to mental illness, depression and different forms of trauma is a crucial part of our recovery.
“The pain of a woman is the tears and agony of a nation, all our efforts at development must continue to have the welfare of women and girls at the centre.
“We must never allow ethnic or religious sentiments to distract us from facing the issues that affect us all. So I will ask, what do you choose to challenge?“ she added.
PIAK
