By: Sulayman Waan
Gambia Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices affecting the Health of Women and Girl Child (GAMCOTRAP) has embarked on a six- day community outreach campaign to end Female Genital Mutilation and other Harmful Traditional Practices (HTP); which started at Boro Kanda Kasse in Wuli East District, Upper River Region on June 16.
The UNFPA funded activity brought together fifty participants from each of the six- day sensitization to accelerate the abandonment of FGM, to popularized the FGM law and enlighten the participants on its health complication.
The sensitization programme focuses on Wuli East, Wuli West and Sandu Districts of URR targeting community leaders, women leaders, and community based facilitators, religious scholars and circumcisers with their assistants to widen their understanding on FGM and its effects.
During the opening, Musa Jallow, GAMCOTRAP Overseer and the Director of Office said that the forum is meant to create awareness of the participants on the harmful traditional practices affecting their lives and wellbeing.
“We deem it necessary to work with the community leaders as the entry point in ending FGM in the country because they are very influential as traditional decision makers and their voices are powerful in their respective communities,” he said.
Jallow noted that GAMCOTRAP and its partners are committed in the fight against harmful practices and all other forms of violence against women and children particular the girl child.
“The organisation is not only focusing on URR, but also other regions of the country working with various target groups to accelerate the elimination of FGM and other harmful practices”, he noted.
He added that “He hopes they would support the organisation in the crusade to accomplish the sustainable development goal on eradicating FGM,”
He urged the participants to collectively work with the organisation in their respective communities in order to eliminate FGM in the region and the country at large.
He commended UNFPA for funding the project by saying that its contribution to promote women and children welfare in the country is recognised. Meanwhile, he urged donors to increase the funding to ensure better impact on the society.
Ebrima Njie, also GAMCOTRAP official said FGM has serious health complication to women and the girl child. He continues to say this practice causes excessive bleeding, challenges during menstruation and causes prolong labour. He then urged the participants to avoid this practice to ensure better health condition for the women and the girl child.
Alpha Kamateh, the Alkalo of Makka Masireh noted that he has travelled to many Muslims countries, but none of them is practicing FGM. Therefore, we as traditional decision makers should think of what we are doing.
He commended GAMCOTRAP and its donors for the timely intervention.
Malick Baldeh, GAMCOTRAP Regional Coordinator alleged that: “This practice is a deep rooted culture of our society, but it’s not a religious obligatory. It will end completely if all hands are on deck.”
Sira Wally, the women leader said that since the public has stopped other traditional practice like tattooing of lips. Therefore, the people should also stop this serious practice to women and the girl child in order to maintain their (women) health condition.