By Awolaru Omobolaji Olutosin
It is somewhat a surprise why Female genital mutilation (FMG), a cultural practice which leaves negative developments and impacts, is still in practice.
In Nigeria and many other countries with controversial traditional practices, it remains one of many forms of violence against women and is considered one of the most harmful devastating.
Nigeria accounts for the third highest number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has once said.
Popularly known as female circumcision (FC), Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), is defined as “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or the female genital organs whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons.”
In other words, it is the collective name given to several different traditional practices that involve the cutting of female genitals. The procedure can take any of four different types that are practiced or performed on girls of all ages, from infants to adults.
The practice occurs in at least twenty-five African countries, as well as in some other parts of the world such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Oman, India, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
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7 reasons Cited For Female Genital Mutilation
- Female Genital Mutilation is believed to keep a woman chaste before marriage. In other words, it is done to control women’s sexuality and for them to remain a virgin till marriage.
- Female genital mutilation is also claimed to protect the honor of the families. In some societies, an uncircumcised female is considered impure; the practice is therefore misconceived as useful in the traditional context by many of the members of societies concerned.
- Though there are positive reasons for genital mutilation for traditional requirements, it is evil, because genital cutting is extremely painful and can lead to other health issues.
- From the perspective of law, Female genital mutilation is gross violation of fundamental human right
- FMG is unhygienic leading to hemorrhage (severe bleeding) or death
- It causes severe excruciating pain
- FMG induces psychological trauma and loss of self confidence in the victims.
- From health perspectives, it may lead to many gynecological and obstetric complications such as infertility, difficulties at child birth among others.
Some health care professionals who are expected to have capacity to identify, prevent and/or manage the menace of FGM were found to be themselves part of the problem in some parts of Africa. The World Health Organisation strongly condemns health workers participation in conducting FGM.
Generally, harmful traditional practices are still prevalent in Nigeria including despite domestic laws prohibiting such practices.
From 27% of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 being victims of FGM, in the last 30 years, prevalence of the practice has decreased by half in some parts of Nigeria, agencies say.
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Prevalent Forms Of FGM
Nigerians practice the following forms of female genital cutting/mutilation:
Type I, clitoridectomy: Removing the clitoral hood and at least part of the clitoris
Type II, Sunna: Removing the full clitoris and part of the labia minora
Type III, infibulation: Removing the clitoris, labia minora, and labia majora. This also involves stitching the vaginal opening with a minuscule hole for urination and menstrual bleeding.
Type IV: Other unclassified forms of FGM may involve pricking, stretching, cauterization, or inserting herbs into the vagina.
Suggested Solutions To Combating FMG
- Mothers are strongly advised against the practice of FGM in antenatal and other relevant clinics.
- Health workers especially nurses should not to practice any form of harmful traditional practices especially FGM.
- No room should be allowed for any health worker to aid or encourage any in FGM.
- The government should introduce programmes through the media houses to educate people against the practice of female genital cutting.
- The law banning the practice of FGM should be seriously enforced for all involved to account for the practice of FGM.
- Traditional and religious leaders to will be tasked to enlighten families against FGM.
Cami Ezenwa is a writer, editor and concepts developer. He has worked with the Daily Times, Daily Independent, Financial Standard and Business Television, to mention a few.
Committed to grooming the next generation of impactful writers, he is an apostle of free flowing prose.
