Reports from Freetown Aberdeen Women Clinic that cares for women affected by Fistula and other sexually related abuses have disclosed that between 2008 to 2009 89% of fistula and 65 % of maternity patients treated by the hospital between two years have gone through FGM.
Reports continued that many cases admitted at the hospital on a daily bases for maternity and fistula related cases have also got other FGM complicated cases.
As Sierra Leone Joins the World to celebrate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as declared by the United Nations in 2012 it is very much significant to assess the upsurge of FGM in the country with a view to raise the awareness around the menace.
A Press statement from the lead umbrella CSO body the Forum Against Harmful Practices (FAHP) notes that they are joining the World to commemorate zero tolerance day on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) scheduled for the 6th February,2020.
Chairperson of the Forum made of several CSO and NGO’s noted in the joint release that FGM has caused an untold suffering amongst women and girls over decades.
“Unreported and undocumented deaths of initiates within those secret arenas have occurred on a large scale coupled with some health complications suffered by those who survive,’’ the release states.
She underscored the point that women have continued to suffer in the hands of their sex partners to maintain relationships.
Madam Rugiatu further added that Sierra Leone remains one of the countries with a high infant mortality rate and that this could not be unconnected with the continuous fidgeting of the Virginia of women in the name of tradition and culture.
She confirmed that this harmful practice has further compounded in the threat of fistula amongst women and girls making them lose their dignity and self esteem in local communities.