By TWE News Desk

The 2024 International Day of the Girl-Child was celebrated in Jos with a strong call to parents to prioritize girls’ nutritional, mental health, and reproductive rights, emphasizing these as key to their physical, psychological, and emotional development.

Organized by the Association of Lady Pharmacists of Nigeria, Plateau State Branch, the event took place at Government Secondary School, Laranto, Jos, under the theme “Girls’ Vision for the Future.”

In her keynote address, the guest speaker, Pharm. Dorcas Lohdip Domjul, explained that this year’s theme was selected based on UNICEF’s analysis, which highlights the resilience of girls in the face of challenges and their unwavering hope for a better future. Domjul emphasized that girls consistently take action to create a world where they are protected, respected, and empowered.

“The event provided an opportunity to celebrate girls by amplifying their voices, actions, and leadership,” Domjul said, adding that one in five women were married as children according to statistics, and 75% of new HIV infections among adolescents globally occur in girls.

Speaking on the topic “Adolescent Girls’ Health: Shaping the Future Through Access to Nutrition, Mental Health, and Reproductive Health,” Domjul stressed the importance of good nutrition and discussed the barriers to achieving it, including poverty and lack of proper education. She noted that achieving the goals of the Girl-Child Day requires ensuring girls have access to proper nutrition, mental health support, and education.

Pharm. Philomena Desben Longji from Fidson Healthcare PLC addressed the audience on gender-based violence (GBV), defining it as violence directed at individuals or groups based on their gender.

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), represented by its secretary, Mwuese Adem, and the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Plateau State Branch, represented by Dr. Nana Awaya Emeribe. Both urged the girls to take care of their health and prioritize their education.

The event’s highpoint was a debate between students from Government Secondary School, Laranto, and Government Secondary School, Township, on the topic: “Girls Empowered Should Focus on Business and Education.”