Gambia
Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and
Children (GAMCOTRAP), in partnership with UNFPA have sensitized teachers and
school authorities in Upper River Region-north on Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM) and other harmful traditional practices.
Held
in Diabugu Batapa and Nyakoi Taibatu villages, the forums brought together over
hundred participants within Sandu, Wuli West and Wuli East of the URR. It aims
to accelerate the abandonment of FGM and other harmful traditional practices
such as early or forced marriage and Gender Based Violence.
In
his opening statement, Musa Jallow, GAMCOTRAP team leader said the
sensitizations were initiated after a research revealed that FGM is still
practiced in URR.
“Therefore,
we (GAMCOTRAP) deem it necessary to enlighten you on FGM and other harmful
practices in order to help in the promotion and protection of the future
generation.”
According
to him, the organization has no objection to positive practices by the masses
particularly on women, instead it fight only the harmful practices affecting
women and girl- child.
Mr. Jallow said FGM is detrimental to girl-
child and women’s health; while appealed to the educationists to play their
quota in eliminating these disheartening practices. “Many are practicing FGM
because they associated it with religious obligation but one should not
suffocate people in the name of religious,” he said.
He
noted that despite the ban on FGM in 2015, some are still practicing it
secretly. He called on the participants to enlighten the young ones on their
rights, as well help to promote and protect their welfare.
Fatou
Bojang, GAMCOTRAP field coordinator said FGM has numerous health complications
on women, citing severe pain during birth, marriage consummation and urinary
retention.
Ms.
Bojang unveiled that many women are loitering around within their communities
but they have nonstop bleeding that they never want to disclose with the
masses, which she means is cause by FGM.
Malick
Baldeh, GAMCOTRAP regional coordinator for URR said fighting FGM and other
harmful practices should be a collective responsibility for all while said this
harmful traditional practice is not a religious obligation but a traditional
activity.
Kelepha
Kandeh, health personnel said research has unveiled that URR registered among
the highest maternal dead in the country, adding that this dreadful is cause by
FGM.
He
said this practice caused severe pain to women, excessive bleeding, urinary
retention, and series of complications during birth as well causes women
barrenness.
Foday
Camara, participant said the culture of negotiating with perpetrators of
harmful practices at the family level is the main factor undermining the
crusade to end FGM, early/forced marriage in the society. “If a perpetrator of
harmful traditional practices is punish. It would be a lesson for all but if
FGM cases are neglected the practices would continue,” he said.
