| AHI, on
February 6, 2006 joined the rest of the world to mark
the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital
Mutilation (FGM). The event which took place at the
AHI Youth Centre aimed at creating awareness on the
dangers of the practice and the need to eliminate all
forms of FGM practices.
Highlights of the event included, a lecture and a drama
presentation titled “Campaign Against FGM”
by a group made up of in-school young people from various
schools.
In her presentation, Dr. Oridota, a resident doctor
at the AHI Youth Clinic enlightened the young people
on the various types of FGM which include the following:
- Type I: Excision of the prepuce with or without
excision of part or the entire clitoris
- Type II: Excision of the clitoris with partial or
total excision of the labia minora
- Type III: Excision of part or all of the external
genitalia and stitching/narrowing of the Vagina opening
(infibulations)
- Type IV: Pricking, piercing or incising of the clitoris
and/ or labia; stretching of the clitoris and/ or
labia; cauterization by burning of the clitoris and
surrounding tissue. Scrapping of tissue surrounding
the vaginal orifice (Angurya cuts) or cutting
of the vagina (Gisihiri cuts)
She gave various reasons why people carry out FGM to
include: psychosexual, sociological and religious. She
also highlighted some of the possible complications
of FGM to include:
- Bleeding to death during and after the procedure
- Severe shock and pain during circumcision
- Damage to the organs surrounding the clitoris and
labia
- Acute and long term urinary and reproductive disorders
- Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF)
- Infertility and other complications caused by infections
of the cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes
- Potential transmission of HIV- caused by the use
of non-sterile and/ or shared instruments during the
procedure
- Pain during childbirth due to constriction of the
vaginal outlet, etc
The programme was attended by more than 120 in and
out-of-school young people.
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