By: Sulayman Waan in URR
Gambia Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Girl Child (GAMCOTRAP) on Saturday June 29 sensitized Wuli East circumcisers and their assistants on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), held at Sutukoba Village in the Wuli East District, Upper River Region (URR); Funded by UNFPA.
The forum brought together fifty participants. It aims to accelerate the abandonment of FGM and other harmful traditional practices that are affecting women such as GBV, early/ force marriages; the same event is expected to take place in Taibatu, Wuli West.
In his opening remark, Musa Jallow, overseer for GAMCOTRAP’s director office expressed delight on the forum, saying the activity means to sensitize the circumcisers and their assistants so as to accelerate the abandonment of FGM and other harmful tradition practices in the area.
“We deem it necessary to sensitize you (circumcisers) on the health implications of FGM because we realized that this practice is still ongoing in this region. However, we want to engage you as stakeholders to ensure the elimination of FGM in your communities,” he said.
He added: “I belief many don’t understand the health consequences involve in this harmful practices and that enables you to continue practicing it in the society.”
Jallow said many associate FGM with Islam; however, he said this practice is not religion obligation but a traditional practice that affects the wellbeing of women and girl- child in.
“This has nothing to do with Islam. There are non-Muslims practicing FGM in the country and some Islamic countries that are not engage in FGM,” he noted.
You are the right people to support the crusade to end FGM in the society because when you stop cutting, people would no more bring their children to you for circumcision and that is the only way to eradicate this practice in the society, he said.
He debunked the rumor that GAMCOTRAP is fighting traditional practices in the country, adding the organization is not fighting all traditional practices but only combating harmful traditional practices that are affecting women’s health.
Mr. Jallow commended their donors for funding the project saying UNFPA support on women empowerment is recognized and appreciated.
On her presentation, Fatou Bojang, GAMCOTRAP field coordinator said as long as FGM has health consequences on women and girls; therefore, it should be completely abolished to ensure women are free from this health complication.
Speaking further she urged them to avoid early/forced marriages among young girls to ensure their wellbeing, saying the youngsters should be enrolled to school instead of being married in their teenage period.
Funneh Sanneh, ex- circumciser said the health effects involved in FGM cannot be over overstress, adding she is a potential FGM victim because it prevents her from pregnancy throughout her life time.
“I don’t have intercourse with a man for the past 20 years owing to the FGM health effects on me and I would never have time with a man because am incapable,” she unveiled emotionally before the participants.