Putting an End to Female Cutting
Omolara Akintoye
The Nation on Sunday
February 11, 2007

The importance of healthy and fulfilling sexual and reproductive lives for young ones across the world can not be overemphasized. Increasingly, complex challenges and situations continue to rear their heads, such as: pervasive and deepening poverty, the scourge of AIDS warfare, harmful traditional practices, among others and the young people who are directly affected by these factors often have little or no say in decisions that impact upon their lives. In the past decade, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) or Cutting is one of the cultural values to be valued by women. The myth behind the cutting or mutilation of the genitalia, especially the cutting of the clitoris reduces sexual urge and satisfaction. This cannot be isolated from the fact that women are supposed to be virgins until marriage, and are to be faithful sexual partners to only their spouses afterwards.

It has however, been discovered that FGM does not only limit the female’s ability to enjoy sexual activities but also lead to some unbearable complications during labour and child birth.

Every year, an estimated 2 million girls are at risk of genital cutting and mutilation. This practice is not only a violation of every child’s rights; it is physically harmful and has serious consequences for a girl’s health since it causes irreparable physical harm. This however calls for need to address FGM not only through education but also as part of their overall economic and social development work.

Hence, towards a genital mutilation free world, the theme for this year is Female Genital Mutilation in a globalized age and the sub-theme; putting an end to FGM. Action Health Incorporated (AHI) organised a special programme for secondary schools in Lagos state. The programme according to the Programme Assistant, AHI, Miss Tolu Ojo, is to commemorate this year’s zero tolerance day to female genital mutilation (FGM).

The programme which is being commemorated on February 6 of every year focuses on how young ones can contribute to putting an end to harmful traditional practices.
The day also serves as a forum for educating young ones on the challenges of growing up as well as showcasing skills that they’ve acquired on productive health issues.

In his lecture titled, “Putting an end to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)”, Dr. Segun Awoyinfa, a Medical Consultant with AHI, said female genital mutilation is a collective name given to several different procedures involving partial or total removal of the external genitalia. Awoyinfa gave reasons why people carry out FGM as which is majorly to maintain culture and preserve tradition, among others. He, however talked on the possible complications of FGM which are vast.

The question time was an opportunity for the students to be educated more on the topic. One of which was how infection could be transmitted through FGM. Dr. Awoyinfa responded to all the questions.

Also in a drama acted by the students of Baptist Senior High School titled, “Putting an end to FGM”, it tells the story of a young girl who was an important person in her community. This girl devoted her time to educating her people on HIV/AIDS, harmful practices and other risky behaviour. She was later diagnosed with HIV. The infection was traced back to the time she was circumcised. This made all the villagers to resolve never to practice the act again.

Other side attractions were songs, dance riddles and jokes. On their part, students called for a stop to this act.

The gathering was an avenue to showcase the skills which students have gained.