Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a exclusive interview with The Gambia Journal, Dr. Hamadi Sowe, a seasoned midwifery professional with over a decade of experience across the Gambia, strongly condemned the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), emphasizing that it holds no health benefits and should not be performed by health practitioners.
“The part of the body that is removed from the woman’s reproductive system has nothing vital for reproduction. So there is no point arguing that health practitioners should medicalize it, because you medicalize something that has benefits,” Dr. Sowe stated.
Dr. Sowe’s comments came after a collaborative sensitization event with Raise the Young Foundation and women leaders in Brikama. He acknowledged that while some women globally undergo surgery on their overgrown clitoris for beautification purposes, FGM remains harmful and unnecessary.
Since the 2015 ban on FGM in Gambia, the practice has been significantly controlled, though it persists underground. Dr. Sowe noted, “Then it was done indiscriminately, there was no control. The ban is a control measure so that it will not become a full-blown issue.”
Dr. Sowe highlighted the multifaceted controversy surrounding FGM in the Gambia, involving political, religious, medical, and cultural perspectives. He stressed that many women face severe complications during or after labor due to FGM, including fatal distress and excessive bleeding, which can lead to sudden death.
Yankuba Keita, Founder and CEO of Raise the Young Foundation, echoed Dr. Sowe’s concerns. He explained that their organization brings together local women leaders from various communities in Brikama to discuss the adverse effects of FGM. Keita emphasized the importance of educating local populations about these risks, especially if the ban is ever lifted.
“The ban on FGM is beneficial for our women, and we want them to be safe and not return to those dark days,” Keita advised. “We are trying to change the mindset of the people, and during the training, women were very open and asked relevant questions.”
Fatou Bojang, a participant and women leader from Brikama, shared her insights from the training. She was particularly shocked by the cutting of the entire clitoris and the associated risks, including infections and early marriage. Bojang expressed her strong opposition to the practice, emphasizing that she would never agree to such harm befalling any woman.
The consensus among health professionals like Dr. Sowe and activists like Keita is that FGM should be eradicated entirely.
In a pivotal session of the parliament on Monday, the Women (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which sought to repeal the ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), was decisively rejected. The bill, introduced by Hon. Almameh Gibba, representing Foni Kansala, faced staunch opposition during the consideration stage.
