Feb 19 2002
Female Genital Mutilation Seminar Held at the Hospital
This report appeared previously on the main web site and has been transferred here
Reported by Jennie Goutet, HOPE worldwide
The first regional consultative seminar on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) was held for the countries of the Horn of Africa February 19-21, 2002. Seminar attendees gathered from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somaliland and Somalia (Bosaso, Mogadishu) to discuss ways to end this barbaric ritual.
FGM dates back to ancient Egypt when young girls would be circumcised to ensure that those sent to the Pharaoh would always be a virgin. The practice continues today in the form of circumcision or mutilation all throughout Africa and parts of the Middle East. The mutilation is usually done in rural areas, without anaesthesia, and with a dull and dirty razor blade, knife or bone that kills many of the girls due to complications.
Among the speakers at the Seminar were representatives of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Religion. They discussed the health concerns that FGM poses in the young girl as well as during her childbearing years. The Qur’aan was read and an expert in religion proved that the Qur’aan does not support bodily mutilation, and that the practice is therefore contrary to the predominant religion in the very countries where it is practiced.
Efforts were focused primarily on collaboration between these countries in the efforts to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation by sending out a common message and developing strategies and educational material in Somali, which is spoken in all of these countries. It was jointly agreed upon that February 21 would annually be recognized as FGM Day and that the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital would be the center of cooperation and communication for the Horn of Africa on FGM-related issues.
