Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is commonly known as FEMALE CIRCUMCISION
It involves the cutting off of part or the whole of a girl’s clitoris and some other parts of her
sex organs for cultural or any other non-medical reasons. This practice does not have any health benefits for girls and women rather it causes a lot of negative effects such as;
. Difficulty in passing urine
. Recurrent urinary tract infection
. Pelvic infections
. Infertility
. Forming of scar tissue and keloids
. Loss of normal sexual function
. Cysts and abscess on genital
. Difficulty in menstruation
. Possible infertility
. Painful intercourse
. Problem in child birth
. Fear, submission, inhibition and suppression of feelings
. Repeated pain during intercourse and menstruation
. Constant feeling of betrayal , bitterness and anger
. Mental and psychosomatic disorder
. Uncircumcised girls are socially stigmatized and rejected by communities
. Painful and difficult labour
. At times death
Above is a picture of theatre art students on a church stage acting a play to discourage female genital mutilation
Why do People Carryout Female Genital Mutilatin?
FGM is carried out most times as a result of the beliefs about what is considered acceptable sexual behaviour. It aims to ensure premarital virginity and marital fidelity. FGM is in many communities believed to reduce a woman's libido and therefore believed to help her resist extramarital sexual acts.
FGM is associated with cultural ideals of femininity and modesty, which include the notion that girls are clean and beautiful after removal of body parts that are considered unclean, unfeminine or male
It is believed that being cut increases marriageability in some communities and so on...
This practice is totally detrimental to the total well being of the girl child. Hence it should be eliminated.
LETS SAY NO TO FGM TODAY AND SAVE THE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF
WOMEN!
More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is concentrated
Join the Crusade to say no to FGM anywhere it is practiced among our people by:
• Saying no to FGM today to save the future generations of women!
• Finding out about the practice in your locality and giving clear information
and education to other people on the health effects of female circumcision
• Working with other people to stop the practice in your area
• Contacting health or other influential authorities in your area to notify them
about the problem
• Discussing with your law makers or local representatives on making laws
against female circumcision
