TOPIC: BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS TO ADDRESS MEDICALIZATION OF FGMC

ANCHORS: PURITY OPARA, RAYMOND OKPANI & ODUNOLA OLABINTAN

ODUNOLA

1. Hello, welcome and thank you for joining us on today’s tweet conference, I am Olabintan Odunola and I’ll be joined today by Chiazawom Purity and Raymond Okpani. #endcuttinggirls
2. The weekly tweet conference has consistently become one of the key strategies that UNICEF is using to create awareness and build capacities towards the abandonment of FGM. #endcuttinggirls
3. The conversation will last from 5pm to 7pm. #endcuttinggirls
4. Today, we will be addressing a very important and strategic topic “Building Partnerships with Medical Associations to Address Medicalization of FGM/C.” #endcuttinggirls
5. I will lead the first part of the conversation for 30 minutes and my partners too shall have 30 minutes each while the last 30 minutes will be for contributions, questions and answers. #endcuttinggirls
6. Before we begin I’ll like to give a brief introduction of what FGM/C is all about. #endcuttinggirls
7. FGM/C stands for Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting is defined as all practices that involve the total or partial removal of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. #endcuttinggirls
8. FGM is carried out with special knives, scissors, razor blades and pieces of glass. #endcuttinggirls
9. Some of the instruments may be reused with being sterilized… #endcuttinggirls
10. In some areas like the Gambia, finger nails are used to pluck out the clitoris.
11. In local communities in Africa, the practice is being carried out by elderly women who are usually traditional birth attendant. #endcuttinggirls
12. There are four types of FGM/C and they are as follows; #endcuttinggirls
13. Type 1 (Clitoridectomy) which the removal of the prepuce with or without excision of part of the clitoris. #endcuttinggirls
14. Type 2 (Excision) is the removal of the clitoris with partial or total removal of the labia minora #endcuttinggirls
15. Type 3 (Infibulation) is the removal of part of the external genitalia, stitching and narrowing of the vaginal orifice for urination and menstrual flow. #endcuttinggirls
16. Type 4 (Unclassified) refers to all other harmful procedures to the female genital for non-medical reasons and this could include pricking, piercing, incising, scraping and cauterization. #endcuttinggirls
17. It also includes introduction of corrosive substances or herbs into the vagina for the purpose of tightening or narrowing it. #endcuttinggirls
18. FGM/C is deeply rooted in culture, has no health benefits, violates the human rights of women and girls and also has short term and long term on their health and well-being. #endcuttinggirls
19. Short term effects include; excessive bleeding, bruises, trauma, sepsis, fractures and so much more. #endcuttinggirls
20. Long term effect include; psychological trauma, keloid scar formation, painful intercourse, vaginal fistula, asphyxia at child birth, obstructive labour etc. #endcuttinggirls
21. According to world health organisation (WHO) over 200 million women have been subjected to FGM/C worldwide. #endcuttinggirls
22. For more facts and figures about FGM/C kindly visit our website at endcuttinggirls.org or go to our YouTube channel to view our videos, #endcuttinggirls
23. You can also join us for our weekly twitter conference by 5pm every Thursday. #endcuttinggirls
24. Thank you and let me now hand over to @lady_purity5 to continue the conversation. #endcuttinggirls

PURITY

25. Thank you @thesocial_nerd for that eye opening session. I will continue on issues around FGMC medicalization. #endcuttinggirls
26. FGM/C has been predominantly carried out by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and traditional circumcisers. #endcuttinggirls
27. But recently there’s been a significant increase in the performance of the procedure by medical personnel. #endcuttinggirls
28. These personnel include doctors, nurses, midwives and community health extension workers (CHEWs). #endcuttinggirls
29. FGM/C is performed by health care professionals due to the misconception that the procedure is safer and beneficial when medicalized. #endcuttinggirls
30. But as stated earlier FGM/C has no health benefits whatsoever and it also a violation of the law. #endcuttinggirls
31. The orientation, support and partnership with health personnel in the #endcuttinggirls campaign is pivotal to ending FGM/C in this generation. #endcuttinggirls
32. And one of the ways to achieve this is partnership with various associations these personnel belong to for quicker and faster dispersion of information to them. #endcuttinggirls
33. These associations include Nigeria Medical Students’ Association(NIMSA), Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Association Of Registered Nurses (ARN) etc. #endcuttinggirls
34. It is very important that there is a strategic engagement and more capacity building programmes with various medical or health related associations. #endcuttinggirls
35. According to the UNFPA- UNICEF Joint Programme on FGM/C Annual report (2010), “FGM/C is being increasingly medicalized and supported by some medical practitioners in countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Guinea, Sudan and Egypt. #endcuttinggirls
36. According to experts, ‘Medicalization’ of female genital mutilation is a serious threat. #endcuttinggirls
37. Despite the increasing awareness of the adverse health consequences and greater access to health care services, health workers and professionals have becoming more involved in performing FGMC. #endcuttinggirls
38. Data indicates that the prevalence of FGM medicalization is increasing, especially among mothers with secondary education. #endcuttinggirls
39. An early comparative overview of data on practitioners of FGM/C from Demographic and Health Survey data drew attention to the “problem” that in certain settings #endcuttinggirls
40. FGM was being increasingly performed by medical personnel. #endcuttinggirls
41. Medicalization is a situation in which FGM is practiced by any category of health-care provider, whether in a public or private clinic, at home, or elsewhere #endcuttinggirls
42. The trend of medicalization is been encouraged with “open arms approach” by many health workers who see FGM as a source of income. #endcuttinggirls
43. Thank you everyone and let me now hand over to @rayokpani to continue with the last session of the conversation. #endcuttinggirls
44. Thank you @lady_purity5 for that wonderful and educative session. I will continue with the last of the conversation. #endcuttinggirls

RAYMOND

45. Data reveal that 74% of girls and women aged 15-49 who report having undergone FGM/C were cut by traditional practitioners. #endcuttinggirls
46. In this same age group, an estimated 26% – totaling nearly 16 million girls and women – report having been cut by a health care professional (doctor, nurse, trained midwife or other health professional), a phenomenon commonly referred to as medicalization. #endcuttinggirls
47. Medicalized cutting is concentrated in three countries; 93% of women who report having been cut by a health care professional live in Egypt, Sudan and Nigeria #endcuttinggirls
48. Years ago in countries such as Kenya, Sudan and Somalia traditional circumcisers or traditional birth attendants were at times provided with surgical supplies such as anesthesia and prophylactic antibiotics #endcuttinggirls
49. This also characterized a great decline in FGM/C prevalence as “limited and slow,” with the practice still supported by large segments of the medical or medically trained professionals. #endcuttinggirls
50. A growing trend for midwives and nurses to carry out female genital mutilation (FGM) is undermining global efforts to eradicate the internationally condemned practice. #endcuttinggirls
51. Hence, Medicalization is one of the biggest threats against the global agenda to #endcuttinggirls
52. There are also some CHALLENGES TO STOPPING FGMC MEDICALIZATION and they are as follows #endcuttinggirls
53. Lack of protocols, manuals and guidelines to guide the health-care providers. #endcuttinggirls
54. Insufficient training and support for health-care providers. #endcuttinggirls
55. Lack of involvement of the local health sector in the prevention of female genital mutilation. #endcuttinggirls
56. There is unavailability of laws and the will to prosecute offenders #endcuttinggirls
57. Lets look at the WAY FORWARD #endcuttinggirls
58. There is need to educating families since they are the ones who go asking medical professionals for FGM/C. #endcuttinggirls
59. Medical and nursing schools should teach sexuality, medical ethics, and human rights to their students. #endcuttinggirls
60. There is need to build strong advocacy support for investment in supporting the abandonment of FGM, engaging political leaders, other leaders, parliamentarians and government ministries. #endcuttinggirls
61. Strengthen the understanding and knowledge of health-care providers. #endcuttinggirls
62. States should adopt, implement and enforce specific legislation addressing FGM, in order to affirm their commitment to stopping the practice of FGMC. #endcuttinggirls