NPC boss decries girl-child access to education, maternal heath

The chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Eze Duruiheoma, laments girl-child lack of access to education and healthcare services, especially in rural communities. Duruiheoma who spoke in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, said it was regrettable that potentials of the teenage Nigerian girl to lead healthy and fulfilled life was hampered. Represented by the […]

The chairman, National Population Commission (NPC), Chief Eze Duruiheoma, laments girl-child lack of access to education and healthcare services, especially in rural communities.
Duruiheoma who spoke in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, said it was regrettable that potentials of the teenage Nigerian girl to lead healthy and fulfilled life was hampered.
Represented by the federal commissioner representing Anambra, Prof. Chika Moore, the chairman said that 32 percent of teenage girls in rural areas gave birth against 10 per cent in urban areas.
According to him, the 2006 census showed that while the literacy rate of male teenage male stood at 77.1 per cent, that of their female counterpart was 73.3 per cent.
He said that the girl-child was more affected by criminal activities as six out of 10 suffered some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence, calling for the enforcement of Child Rights Act.