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Fathers have been urged to desist from bathing or cleaning their daughters’ private parts during their childhood.

Abigail Edem Hunu, a gender activist and a programmes officer at Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), explained that there was the likelihood of the fathers inserting their fingers in the vagina, which would affect the children.

“When they bath and clean the vagina, the child gets used to it and sees it as normal; therefore, when an outsider with evil intentions inserts his finger, the child will not complain,” she said.

Ms Hunu said this on Tuesday, when WiLDAF held a meeting with parents at the St. Barnabas Anglican School to educate them on their roles in preventing child abuse

Some fathers, uncles and brothers end up fingering or defiling girls in the process of cleaning their private parts. Fathers, please do not bath the girl-child, allow the mothers to do it” she indicated.

Explaining that the practice could result in incest, which was not morally right. She said sexually abused children were often tormented by shame and felt that they were responsible for the abuse.

Ms Hunu said there was the need for all, especially parents to recognize, prevent and report child abuse, regardless of the situation.