ACHIEVEMENT_4 BY @Preshdan || TASK: APPLYING MARKDOWNS (An article on The Girl Child) || 100% power

My fellow steemians and friends, I am here to present my achievement-4 task.
When I did my achievement 1, it was crystal clear that my article was not really the best as a result of absence of markdowns (formatting) but as I looked forward to my subsequent achievements, I was introduced to some primary MARKDOWNS by @whitestallion which drastically improved the beauty of my write-ups.
I am however happy to be engaged in applying Markdown as a task. Anyone who needs this post by @cyrptokannon on applying markdowns should here Click.

The issue I want to discuss in this article is of great concern which should not be ignored or overlooked, it is one of the issues that poses menace on our society. Though it may appear silent it is however very conspicuous. It is very needful to call attention or highlight this issue and as well give it the required voice as it is imperative to save us rather being adamant and acting pantomime.

In a developing country like ours (Nigeria), utmost attention due the course to support the Girl-Child has seldom been given, thereby causing and exposing us to mayhem.
There have been many records of lectures, media and symposium taking impressive and applaudable talks on "The Girl-Child" but somewhat implementation strategy to tally actions with talks of course has been unrealistic and sucktastic in the pursuit. Consequently, the recovery of our consciousness from oblivion to be on-guard and join in the fight for this course is our little way of contributing.

WHO IS THE GIRL-CHILD

A Girl-Child is biologically a young female within the age range of 0 and 18 years. This is however a delicate and highly vulnerable stage in which these female tend to explore everything around and within them as such this is a stage of her life preparation which give rise to the foundation that will usher her into "young-adult", a life cycle from 18 years and above.

CHALLENGES OF THE GIRL-CHILD

There are various challenges which the Girl-child encounter within the country but I will pinpoint few of them. The challenges the Girl-Child is confronted with ranges from early marriage to gender-based labour, gender discrimination to sexual abuse. Others are genital mutilation, lack of education and denial of inheritance and rites.

Early Marriages
Most often marriage is seen as a higher priority than education. The low degree of importance attached to girls’ schooling implies that few other options are available to them of which marriage is one. Boys are equally affected but most victims of child marriage are girls. It is estimated that yearly 15 million girls are married before they turn 18. This impedes their education and, because they have little or no educational skills, they and their families are more likely to live in poverty. Due to immature sex organs and early sexual intercourse resulting from early marriage, the Girl-Child prone to suffer uncontrolled urine leakage and vaginal discharge caused by an opening between the vagina and the bladder. This is medically called Vesico-Vagina Fistula(VVF). As the patient constantly contend with incessant urine leakage and vaginal discharge, she becomes physically, psychologically, emotionally and socially distressed. Most times, most of this malady results to the ostracizating of the affected Girl-Child.

Child/domestic labour
Good number of girls spend every day working to help feed themselves and their families. Often, girls stay home to take care of younger siblings and bear the principal burden of housework. While educating a boy is considered a sound investment, it is sometimes considered to be a waste of resources and time for girls.

Many girl-child begin working as early as five years old in agriculture or in homes as domestic servants. Girl-Child domestic workers are to a great extent vulnerable to trafficking, forced labour, sexual violence and many other health issues.

Because they are girls
Many times, girls are marginalised and are out of school unquestionably because they are girls and it is not the cultural norm. They have slim chances of getting a quality education and much more slimer if they come from a poor family, live in a rural area or have a disability.
Meanwhile, there are often legal, religious and traditional practices that discriminate against girls having the chance to get an education.

Pregnancy
Estimated one million girl-child under 15 years give birth each year. In many parts of the world, girls who are pregnant; irrespective of their circumstances; will be excluded from school.
Many do not return after child birth as a result of rules, stigma, fees, lack of childcare and the unavailability of flexible school programmes.

The following are other challenges encountered by the girl-child; rape, trafficking, violence at school, poor sanitation among many others.

We all are therefore incited to give more voice(s) to the issues challenging the girl-child as every life matters and is imperative irrespective of gender.

Thank you for reading through my post.

This achievement_4 task has made me more inclined to the use of Markdown application. An outstanding thanks to you @cryptokannon, @focusnow & @whitestallion for your continued support.