Female genital mutilation is a practice that endangers the future and lives of millions of girls and women every year. The education, awareness and training of health professionals can help to eradicate this violent and dangerous practice
44 million of the mutilations have been practiced on girls under the age of 14 / Courtesy of World Vision
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the most aggressive and dangerous practices practiced, especially in African and Asian countries.
It is estimated that every year three million girls are mutilated and that in the world more than 200 million women and girls have been subjected to this type of violence.
For this reason, every February 6, the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation, we fight against this cultural practice that endangers the lives of millions of women and girls.
In Ethiopia, 74% have experienced some form of mutilation. In Kenya, despite being an illegal practice since 2011, it is still practiced in 21% (between 15 and 49 years old) and 11% (between 11 and 15 years old).
NGOs Help in Action Y Doctors of the World They combat FGM by offering education and training health professionals in the face of this practice, expanding their efforts on the International Day.
Listen, understand and accompany
In this task, health professionals play an important role of prevention, listening and respect.
From Doctors of the World They work to give a cultural and emotional perspective to community mediators, thus generating spaces of trust within the community itself and advancing in the approach to health with cultural sensitivity.
In this way they ensure an attitude in which those who have suffered FGM are not judged or because you think this practice is beneficial for your daughter.
This non-governmental organization demands that the training of health professionals to deal with mutilation be increased and ensured, thus giving an approach close to the culture and reality of women survivors of this procedure.
“It is so important to have the tools for intervention such as training in cultural competence so that health professionals can address Female Genital Mutilation with families from countries at risk”
said Idoia Ugarte, political reference of the State Group of Female Genital Mutilation of Doctors of the World.
Doctors of the World is committed to the improving care for women survivors expanding comprehensive assistance.
Its objective is to include in the health system from psychological support to therapy for the sexual dysfunctions it causes or genital reconstruction.
Education as a key to change
The closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic made the organization’s work difficult Help in Action that uses education as the best instrument to end female genital mutilation.
To avoid setbacks and advance awareness, the NGO focuses its work on promote access to education for minors. they do building schools and training teachers as a key to raising awareness on gender issues.
«The school environment is the most conducive to promoting listening and dialogue on sexual and reproductive rights. Also on the mechanism for the prevention of all types of violence, including mutilation and premature exhaustion»
says Marga Sanmartín, regional manager of Ayuda en Acción in East Africa and a specialist in sexual and reproductive health.
In addition, the NGO has created gender and anti-ablation clubs with which to make communities aware of this practice.
‘Zero mutilation’ and more future
Access to education gives women and girls the opportunity to have a better future.
“I joined the anti-ablation club in 1st grade and finished university hoping to get a job. But I have come even further. The training has allowed me to create my own basketry business with which I have managed to employ up to 15 people in my community»
Mercy account.
Although many countries are making great efforts to eradicate mutilation and denounce its practice, it still persists in many places.
If the rate of progress does not advance, thousands of girls will suffer from FGM with the risk that this entails for their future and their lives.
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