Gambia
Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and
Girls (GAMCOTRP) has sensitized out of school and uneducated girls on Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriage and child rights and protection.
The
sensitisations were held at Missira -Ba Mariama and Koina villages in Kantora
District and Baja Kunda in Wuli East District in the Upper River Region (URR)
on February 21, 22 and 23. It was funded by UNICEF.
A
total of 30 out of school and uneducated girls were sensitised with the aim of
enlightening the youngsters the health consequences on FGM, teenage pregnancy
and alos on child marriage and child rights and protection.
Fatou Bojang, GAMCOTRAP field coordinator
described the forum as significant in raising the participants’ awareness on
the health effects of the harmful traditional practices, child rights as well
as importance of education.
The
women rights activist said the sensitisation happens after a research was
conducted by UNICEF that showed that the number of school dropouts and
illiterate girls is very high in the Kantora district.
“Therefore,
we deemed it necessary to sensitize you on the importance of education as it
will enlighten you on the health effects of FGM, teenage pregnancy and child
marriage,” she said.
Madam
Bojang said the project will also help the school dropout girls to continue
their education, saying they have the right to education and free from all
forms of health complications, violence and discrimination.
On
FGM
“FGM
has severe health complications to girls and women. And many women had
experienced rigorous pain during birth period as a result of the female
circumcision,” she said.
She
revealed that many women are infected with fistula (female reproductive organs’
infection) due to FGM, adding that some young ladies as well have other
reproductive health effects that are cause by child marriage.
The
women’s rights activist enjoined the young girls to desist from all forms of
harmful practices in order to maintain their good health.
Ebrima Jassey, social welfare officer said
every child has the right to education, health, access to national documents
among others but he was quick to add that the children have the responsibility
to go school regularly.
He said no person has the right to engage
teenagers in any form of marriage. And if anyone is culpable will face legal
consequences. “It is collectively responsible to ensure the children are
protected from all forms of risk and harassment,” he said.
According
to him, research has revealed that the Central River and Upper River Regions
are the most vulnerable regions to FGM, child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
He added that many natives of these regions often drop their girls from school
for marriage.
“Child
labour is unacceptable in The Gambia and no one should practice it. Children
should only engage on light works that will not harm them. But all hazardous
work such as working in a chemical producing factory is unlawful,” he said.
Bintou
Bokum, participants expressed gratitude to the feminize organisation for
raising their (participants) awareness on the health effects of FGM, child
marriage, child rights and protection.
“I
have learned many things that I never knew before and this training will help
me and the entire participants a lot,” she said.
Salimatou
Baldeh, another participant also commended GAMCOTRAP for the sensitisation. She
recommended the organisation to organize similar training for their
(participants) parents so that they will understand the health effects of FGM
and other related issues.
