Gambia
Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and
Children (GAMCOTRAP), last Thursday sensitized youth of Sandu District on
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and its health complications at Sarre Gubu
village in the Sandu district, Upper River Region; funded by UNFPA Gambia
Country office.
The
forum brought together one hundred youth across the district aims to accelerate
the abandonment of FGM and other harmful traditional practices includes: Early\
Forced Marriage and Gender Based Violence.
In
his opening remark, Musa Jallow, GAMCOTRAP team leader said the sensitisation
means to empower the youth with the require information regarding FGM and other
harmful traditional practices.
“Research
has shown that FGM is still being practiced
in the three districts of the region namely: Sandu, Wuli East and Wuli
West Districts; therefore, we (GAMCOTRAP) and our partners deem it necessary to
enlighten the youth on FGM in order to help in the promotion and protection of
the future generation from such practices,” he said.
Mr. Jallow added that there is a need to raise
the awareness of the youth as future leaders, noting that they are instrumental
in changing harmful activities in the society.
“These harmful traditional practices are
changeable depending on advancement of knowledge as well as generational
changes,” he noted.
However, he said some believed that GAMCOTRAP
is fighting all traditional practices in the society but he clarified that the
organisation only combats traditional practices that are detrimental to women’s
and girl child health.
He
enjoined the participants to utilize the knowledge gained and share experience
so as to contribute in the elimination of harmful traditional practices in
their various communities to ensure free FGM society.
Fatou
Bojang, GAMCOTRAP field coordinator described FGM as one of the factors
affecting the health of women and girl- child in the Gambia, adding that
it causes numerous health problem to
women citing excessive bleeding, urinary retention among others.
Ms.
Bojang called on all and sundry to avoid these harmful traditional practices,
especially FGM so as to ensure healthy women in the society.
She
opined that parents should enroll their children to school to improve their
understanding on social issues as well help to alleviating poverty in the
country. While urged the youth to be conscious with family planning, noting
that understanding family planning would enable them to control their birth
space as expected.
Malick
Baldeh, GAMCOTRAP regional coordinator for URR described FGM as un- Islamic but
mere traditional practice that is affecting women health.
On
his presentation, Kelepha Kandeh, health personnel from the Ministry of Health
Regional office in URR revealed that 85 percent of URR women have gone under
FGM and 60 percent out of the cut women were seal during their circumcision.
He
said this practice caused severe pain to women, excessive bleeding, urinary
retention, and series of complications during giving birth, causes women
barrenness among others.
Ebrima
Jallow, a participants commended GAMCOTRAP for enlighten youth on FGM. He urged
his fellow partakers to play active role in ending FGM and other harmful
traditional practices.
