LAST WEEK TWEET CONFERENCE SCRIPT: “Collaborating With Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAS) To Educate Their Clients About FGM/C“

1.  Good evening. Welcome to today’s tweet conference. I am @VARCENigeria, your anchor, and my co-anchors are @mbaoyii and @robinson4eva …#EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls 
2. Today, we shall be focusing on the topic “COLLABORATING WITH TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS (TBAs) TO EDUCATE THEIR CLIENTS ABOUT FGM/C” #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
3. FGM/C stands for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
4. FGM/C refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of  the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital  organs for cultural or other non-medical reasons #EndCuttingGirls  @endcuttinggirls
5. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies FGM/C into 4 types. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls
6. Type 1: partial or total removal of the clitoris and/or the prepuce (Clitoridectomy). #endcuttinggirls
7. Type 2: partial or total removal of clitoris and labia minora, with  or without excision of & labia majora (excision). #endcuttinggirls
8. Type 3: narrowing the vaginal opening by appositioning labia minora  or labia majora, with/without excision of clitoris (infibulation)   #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls
9. Type 4: unclassified:all other harmful procedures to the female  genitalia for non-medical purposes, e.g. cauterization. #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls
10. 10a. The centuries-old practice of FGM/C is a social norm, #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls   10b. Buttressed by underlying gender structures &power relations  and deeply rooted in tradition. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls    
11. In Africa, FGM/C is known to be practiced among certain communities  in 29 countries, including Nigeria. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
12. FGM/C is usually carried out by Traditional Birth Attendant (TBAs)  in the community (usually, but not exclusively, women) designated to  perform this task #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
13. Where it is widely practiced, FGM/C is supported by both men and  women, usually without question, and anyone that does not follow the  norm may face condemnation, harassment and ostracism. #EndCuttingGirls  @endcuttinggirls
14. Where FGM/C is a social norm; it is difficult for families to  abandon it without support from the wider community. In these  communities, it is often practiced even when it is known to inflict harm  upon girls has most of the TBAs are also the custodian of the community  tradition. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
15. Because the perceived social benefits of the practice are deemed  higher than its disadvantages. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls
16. The practice of FGM has physical, psychological and psychosocial  effects on girls and women. These effects are experienced on short and  long-term basis. Although the physical effects are quantifiable and as  such given adequate consideration, psychological aspects of the practice  cannot be overlooked as it affects the overall mental well-being of  girls and women. #endcuttinggirls
17. Survivors experience immediate trauma which stems from pain, shock  and the use of physical force by those performing FGM. It has also been  found out that this trauma experienced through FGM stays with women  forever. #endcuttinggirls
18. Sexual phobia: women who have undergone FGM are more likely to  experience painful intercourse, reduced sexual satisfaction and sexual  desire. Women may also experience embarrassment about intimacy and more  difficulty reaching orgasm. This is likely to adversely affect marital  relationships, with the women bearing the blame for such occurrences.   #endcuttinggirls
19. Some survivors experience a sense of betrayal by someone emotionally  close to them because in many cases, girls are held down by their  relatives while FGM is carried out. This could in turn lead to feelings  of resentment and withdrawal from such persons. #endcuttinggirls
20. Flashbacks and sleep disorders: Girls who experienced FGM at  relatively older ages are likely to become emotionally unstable at  intervals when they read about FGM or remember the process. Images of  the scenario are always fresh in their memories leading to inability to  concentrate, behavioural and sleep disorders. #endcuttinggirls
21. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD): FGM is very likely to cause  various emotional disturbances which could lead to psychiatric disorders  such as PTSD. This could also associate with memory dysfunction.   #endcuttinggirls
22. The effects of FGM/C stem beyond the medical effects. We also have  Psychological and emotional effects which are rarely considered.   #endcuttinggirls
23. A lady who has undergone female genital mutilation is likely to  experience some psychological trauma. Some of which include;  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): this is mostly common amongst  ladies who can remember their FGM experience. The shock tends to come  back to them every time they have a memory of it. #endcuttinggirls
24. Ladies who have undergone FGM tend to have the same level of shock  as adult who were subjected to Child Abuse #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls
25. Mood swings: as a lady who has been mutilated reads and learns more  about what has been done and it’s possible effects, her mood start to  change. From a feeling of hope to hopelessness, etc. #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls
26. Feeling of worthlessness: a number of people who have not been  properly educated on FGM/C related issues tend to make careless remarks  as regards the experience and those who have undergone it. These remarks  might leave an FGM survivor feeling worthless. As though, a vital part  of her has been taken away. #endcuttinggirls
27. Drawn and untrustful: survivors of FGM/C tend to be drawn and keep  to themselves and have a hard time trusting people. This could be due to  the fact that those they trusted to protect them have unknowingly  inflicted pain and a scar. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls
28. Anger: the anger survivors feel towards the cutters and other family  members that were involved in the process could, if not attended to,  spread and generally make such a person develop anger control issues.   #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls
29. Feeling of guilt, shame and fear: a lady who has been mutilated if  not properly educated on the issue can go about carry a feeling of  guilt, shame and fear. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls
30. Sexual Phobia: this experience can lead to painful sex and cause the  lady to develop a sort of phobia to sex. This could in turn take its  toll on their spousal relationships. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls
31. Depression and suicidal ideas: often times ladies who have been  mutilated and have not had a chance to discuss this experience with  specialists or anyone at all, tend to fall into depression which if not  controlled, could birth suicidal thoughts. #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls
32. Understanding that FGM/C in some culture is a norm necessitates the  need for partnership with relevant stakeholders. #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls
33. Also, identifying the right stakeholders and engaging them  successfully is pivotal to #endcuttinggirls as it sets the tone for the  partnership that can help reverse this trend @endcuttinggirls
34. Asides traditional rulers and community leaders, TBAs are major  stakeholders that cannot be left behind in achieving an FGM/C free  generation. #endcuttinggirls
35. 36: Traditional birth attendants are women and men in the communities  and villages who help pregnant women deliver their babies, and at most  times, gain knowledge of the practice from their fore-fathers.   #endcuttinggirls 
36. 37: they are the first port of call for health issues relating to  women and children in rural setting #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
37. 38: TBAs form a major number of the local performers (circumcisers)  of FGM/C in their localities #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
38. 39: The role of the TBAs in providing available health care to  pregnant and non-pregnant women in the communities cannot be  overemphasized. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
39. 40: The circle of TBAs remain one through which can speed up our reach and aid our goals to #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
40. 41: Partnering and engaging TBAs would be effective when we clearly  define how they can help to implement FGM/C abandonment in their various  local communities. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
41. 42: we can engage them by doing an awareness program for TBAs,  highlight the complications of FGM/C and encourage them to become  advocates of FGM/C abandonment within and outside their communities.   #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls 
42. 43: TBAs can function in line with their already-defined roles as advocates and law enforcers. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
43. 44: As custodians of culture and highly-revered people in their  communities, when TBAs become advocates of FGM/C abandonment, it gives  the message “divine credibility” #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
44. 45: Being advocates erases the doubt of whether FGM/C is still acceptable in such communities. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
45. 46: They will also lead discussions in the community which helps to  banish the culture of silence around the practice #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls 
46. 47: TBAs can also share experiences and events that have occurred in  their line of practice about FGM/C. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls   
47. 47b: In 2016, according to a report in Sun newspaper, TBAs  practitioners in Ebonyi state made open confessions and dropped their  blades with which they cut the genitals of female children and embraced  the call against FGM #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls   
48. 47c: This is a clear sign that when the TBAs are collaborated on  this, it will speed up the abandonment of FGM/C #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls   
49. 48: According to Mrs Gloria Okorie a TBA from IVO in Ebonyi state,  ““I thought I was doing female children well when I was cutting their  female organ after birth. I thought doing that will make them complete  and bear children when they grow up” #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls   
50. 49: “I have been telling people that I no longer do it. Even people  are still coming to me to circumcise their female children and I use to  tell them no, I don’t do it anymore. And if I see anyone doing it, I  will personally report the person to the police #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls   
51. 49b: The above confession from Mrs Gloria shows that the  collaboration with TBAs can’t be overemphasized and will yield desired  result. #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls   
52. 50: When TBAs function as law enforcers, they help ensure that  community members respect the country and community’s law in protecting  the rights of the girl child, from discrimination and violation   #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
53. 51: They can also be empowered to set up and oversee bodies that  would monitor the activities of circumcisers in their communities, to  ensure that the girl child is no longer subjected to FGM/C   #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls   
54. 52: Organize a capacity building program for the community health  extension workers alongside TBAs this will enhance their life saving  skills #endcuttinggirls @endcuttinggirls 
55. 53: Advice the TBAs to make sure women are educated about FGM/C when  they visit for delivery of new born and health care #endcuttinggirls  @endcuttinggirls 
56. 54: We share this belief that when TBAs stop practicing FGM/C that  the people will have no other choice than to abandon the practice  because most. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls   

We have come to the end of today twitter conference. It’s question time. #EndCuttingGirls @endcuttinggirls 

PLEASE JOIN US EVERY THURSDAY AT TWITTER FROM 5:00PM - 7:00PM USING THE HASHTAG #ENDCUTTINGGIRLS