The
Village Girl Initiative (VGI) is a non-profitable charity organization
registered both in the United States of Ohio and in The Gambia, West Africa.
It
envisages to bring an end and to completely eradicate Female Genital
Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in the rural villages and communities in The Gambia
where it is widely practiced; by empowering women and girls with resources
through education, access to quality healthcare services and community-based
sensitisation programmes and healing-based support programmes for survivors.
According
to Aisha Saidy, the founder and executive Director of VGI, she said alongside
the fight against FGM/C, is their intent to provide free, quality and
accessible healthcare services through their Free Wellness Clinics to communities
in rural villages, which are challenged with issues of affordability and access
to quality basic healthcare services.
For
Aisha being a village girl, and a survivor of FGM, a mother of two amazing
girls and a healthcare professional, she decided to add her voice to the
discourse of ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in a generation.
“I
came from a rural community, and a tribal lineage that has been practicing the
tradition of FGM for centuries. It is time to change the narratives,” she said.
She
noted it is also common knowledge that The Gambia’s healthcare delivery
services face enormous challenges, as well as potentials for growth and
expansion, especially in regard to delivery and accessibility and affordability
in the rural villages and communities.
Mrs
Saidy opined that in light of these issues, the passion to Give Back and Change
Hearts starting with her own community - Sanyang Village, gave birth to VGI.
“Our target is everyone, especially the rural
communities - women and girls, in particular, and our goal is to empower them
to be actively engaged in preventive health practices, by providing them access
to resources such our Free wellness Clinics, enabling them to become
knowledgeable and make informed health decisions about their bodies,” she said.
She
further stated that there are well established research findings concluding
that FGM not only gravely affects the health of women and girls, who went
through the procedure, but that of the entire community, and that quite a whole
lot of work has been done and are ongoing to make Gambia a Zero FGM Free Zone.
She
also stated that having the law in place banning the practice in the country is
a great accomplishment in the fight against it.
She acknowledged the great work of
organisations such GAMCOTRAP.
“We are not out of the woods yet; the
realities in our various communities in the country, especially the rural
communities and villages are such that the practice is still happening and done
covertly”.
Mrs
Saidy emphasized that VGI believes targeting these communities from a
healthcare approach will further complement the ongoing efforts in making The
Gambia a Zero FGM Free Zone.
The
organization which is preparing for its launching has many surprises for the
public, on the day of the launching, she said.
The
following services will be provided at their Free Wellness Clinic at Sanyang
Health Center, a Complete Wellness Checkup for everyone.
The
services include Free Blood Pressure Monitoring, Free Blood Sugar Monitoring,
Free Pregnancy test, Free HIV Screening, Free Urinalysis, and Free Medications:
AntiHypertensives, Antibiotics, Antidiabetics, pain medications, prenatal
supplements, various supplements and vitamins.
She
disclosed that there will be scores of medical doctors, nurse midwives,
registered nurses, lab techs and pharmacists, all ready to volunteer.
On
the day of the launching, Saidy said, the organization expects a great turnout
of people to the event.
“There
is a need for quality healthcare delivery in the country; we are hopeful that
the communities will utilize the access we are bringing to their doorstep.”
In the process, she said, they would change
their hearts regarding FGM, empower women to make informed healthy decisions
about their bodies and by extension create a populace well engaged in
preventive healthcare and just treatment.