The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (Gamcotrap) last Friday concluded a three-day workshop on female genital mutilation, child rights, teenage pregnancy, early marriage and reproductive health in Gunjur, West Coast Region.
Funded by Save Children, the workshop, held at the Gunjur Day Care Centre, brought together Imams and religious leaders across Kombo South.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the executive director of Gamcotrap, Dr Isatou Touray, said the workshop was meant to sensitise Imams and other religious leaders on female genital mutilation (FGM) and how to stop the practice in our communities.
According to her, 26 countries are fighting for the eradication of FGM. She added that while some countries have stopped it, some are making all efforts to eradicate it. In The Gambia, Gamcotrap is doing everything possible to make sure they eradicate the practice since it is inimical to the general wellbeing of the girl child, she says.
She stated that her organisation would continue to organise similar workshops in other parts of the country to create the much-needed knowledge about the practice. "This kind of outreach programmes and sensitisation would enable people to make informed decisions so as to put a stop to the harmful practice," she said.
The programme officer of Gamcotrap, Amie Bojang Sissoho, said the workshop was held to create awareness on FGM, child rights and reproductive health.
Mrs Bojang-Sissoho said she was optimistic the participants would share the information gained from the three-day training with people in their communities.
The chairman of Gunjur Village Development Committee, Famara Bojang, thanked Gamcotrap for organising the sensitisation workshop, and praised the district chief and the alkalo for their efforts in making the event a success.