{"id":18417,"date":"2024-04-24T16:43:14","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:43:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/?p=18417"},"modified":"2024-04-24T16:43:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T15:43:18","slug":"false-fgm-has-profound-health-implications-for-women-and-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/false-fgm-has-profound-health-implications-for-women-and-girls\/","title":{"rendered":"FALSE! FGM has profound health implications for women and girls"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Claim<\/strong>: A religious leader in The Gambia, Imam Abdoulie Fatty, asserted that female genital mutilation (FGM) has no health implications.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Verdict<\/strong>: This claim is false. DUBAWA\u2019s checks have revealed there are serious health consequences for anyone who undergoes female genital mutilation. \u201cFGM has no health benefits\u2026it can lead to immediate health risks, as well as a variety of long-term complications affecting women\u2019s physical, mental and sexual health and well-being throughout the life course,\u201d the World Health Organisation (WHO) said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Text<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On March 18, 2024, lawmakers in The Gambia voted to overturn<\/a> a nine-year ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) that has been in place since 2015. The legislators in the West African nation voted 42 to four to advance a controversial bill which would repeal the landmark 2015 ban on FGM that made the practice punishable by up to three years in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined female genital mutilation<\/a>\/cutting as \u201call procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reacting to the steps taken to lift the ban on FGM, a Muslim scholar and preacher in The Gambia, Imam Abdoulie Fatty, said the practice has no health implications to warrant a ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat people are saying about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is not true. One Dr Jack Faal, who is a medical Doctor, once said all what people are saying about FGM is not true. During the process of cutting, the blood that the victim loses is very small and cannot cause any health implications. If a woman is circumcised, she recovers very fast when compared to other bodily wounds. Surgery kills and is still killing people,\u201d he said in the Hausa dialect during an interview<\/a> posted on Facebook, starting from minute 0.20 to 01.20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He continued<\/a>, \u201cWhat we normally cut during female circumcision is very small. FGM is not only our culture, but it\u2019s part of our Islamic religion. They want us to abandon the Holy Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet to accept the wishes of only a few people\u2019s decisions. As of today, we say no to the wishes of these few people and will follow the Sunnah of the Prophet and whatever you want to do, go ahead.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUBAWA decided to fact-check the imam’s assertion because of the interest it has generated in the West African country and for public health safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verification<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that there are no health benefits for persons who undergo female genital mutilation. On the contrary, the procedure can lead to immediate health risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll forms of FGM are associated with increased health risk in the short- and long-term. FGM is a harmful practice and is unacceptable from a human rights as well as a public health perspective, regardless of who performs it,\u201d the WHO said<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the health risks associated with FGM are severe pain, excessive bleeding (haemorrhage), shock, genital tissue swelling, infections, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), urination problems, impaired wound healing, mental problems and in certain cases, death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of America noted<\/a> that although FGM is seen as part of the culture of certain countries where it is practised, it has no \u201chealth benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn fact, it can lead to immediate and long-term health problems that can affect obstetric, gynaecological, sexual, and psychological health,\u201d America\u2019s foremost health authority said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to a report by Mayo Clinic, the health complications of FGM can be categorised into early and late complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrequently seen early complications include bleeding, infection, and urinary retention. In general, fewer immediate complications are seen with type 1 FGC, with bleeding and urinary retention still occurring at low rates,\u201d the report reads<\/a> (see page 623).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report further noted that the common late complications from FGM can be organised by the \u201ctype of symptom, with most falling into categories of urinary complications, scarring, pain, infection, infertility, and sexual dysfunction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, a report<\/a> authored by a senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and a researcher at the Africa Coordinating Centre for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation\/Cutting (ACCAF), Dr Samuel Kimani, revealed the practice has serious health consequences for girls and women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report titled, Health impacts of female genital mutilation\/cutting: a synthesis of the evidence revealed that,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe health impacts associated with FGM\/C that require interventions have been broadly categorised into immediate, genito-urinary, gynaecological, obstetric, sexual and psycho-social consequences.\u201d See paragraph 3 of page iv of the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe cutting of women\u2019s and girls\u2019 clitoris and labia is usually done with crude unsterile instruments and without anaesthesia by traditional practitioners who have little knowledge of female anatomy\u2014the cutting results in immediate harm. Bleeding (haemorrhage) occurs due to laceration or severing of branches of the pudendal or clitoral arteries, which have high blood pressure, causing a strong flow of blood during and shortly after the cutting process,\u201d the report said. See paragraph 2 of page 5 of the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DUBAWA contacted a human rights activist in The Gambia, Fatou Suna, who said female genital mutilation is a human rights violation and has a lot of health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver the past few months, I joined a team that went out to different communities and engaged women and girls on this FGM issue, but even those who were conducting it testified that the practice is harmful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Communications Officer for Catch Them Young, a human rights group in The Gambia, told DUBAWA:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will continue with the advocacy until we get what we want. We want to make sure that the practice is eradicated in The Gambia and beyond. FGM kills slowly,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based on various research reports authored by reputable health organisations and experts, it is therefore not true that Female Genetic Mutilation (FGM) has no health implications as alleged by the Islamic scholar Imam Abdoulie Fatty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Claim: A religious leader in The Gambia, Imam Abdoulie Fatty, asserted that female genital mutilation (FGM) has no health implications. Verdict: This claim is false. DUBAWA\u2019s checks have revealed there are serious health consequences for anyone who undergoes female genital mutilation. \u201cFGM has no health benefits\u2026it can lead to immediate health risks, as well as a variety of long-term complications affecting women\u2019s physical, mental and sexual health and well-being throughout the life course,\u201d the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. Full Text On March 18, 2024, lawmakers in The Gambia voted to overturn a nine-year ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) that has been in place since 2015. The legislators in the West African nation voted 42 to four to advance a controversial bill which would repeal the landmark 2015 ban on FGM that made the practice punishable by up to three years in prison. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined female genital mutilation\/cutting as \u201call procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.\u201d  Reacting to the steps taken to lift the ban on FGM, a Muslim scholar and preacher in The Gambia, Imam Abdoulie Fatty, said the practice has no health implications to warrant a ban. \u201cWhat people are saying about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is not true. One Dr Jack Faal, who is a medical Doctor, once said all what people are saying about FGM is not true. During the process of cutting, the blood that the victim loses is very small and cannot cause any health implications. If a woman is circumcised, she recovers very fast when compared to other bodily wounds. Surgery kills and is still killing people,\u201d he said in the Hausa dialect during an interview posted on Facebook, starting from minute 0.20 to 01.20. He continued, \u201cWhat we normally cut during female circumcision is very small. FGM is not only our culture, but it\u2019s part of our Islamic religion. They want us to abandon the Holy Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet to accept the wishes of only a few people\u2019s decisions. As of today, we say no to the wishes of these few people and will follow the Sunnah of the Prophet and whatever you want to do, go ahead.\u201d  DUBAWA decided to fact-check the imam’s assertion because of the interest it has generated in the West African country and for public health safety. Verification The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that there are no health benefits for persons who undergo female genital mutilation. On the contrary, the procedure can lead to immediate health risks. \u201cAll forms of FGM are associated with increased health risk in the short- and long-term. FGM is a harmful practice and is unacceptable from a human rights as well as a public health perspective, regardless of who performs it,\u201d the WHO said. Some of the health risks associated with FGM are severe pain, excessive bleeding (haemorrhage), shock, genital tissue swelling, infections, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), urination problems, impaired wound healing, mental problems and in certain cases, death. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of America noted that although FGM is seen as part of the culture of certain countries where it is practised, it has no \u201chealth benefits.\u201d \u201cIn fact, it can lead to immediate and long-term health problems that can affect obstetric, gynaecological, sexual, and psychological health,\u201d America\u2019s foremost health authority said. According to a report by Mayo Clinic, the health complications of FGM can be categorised into early and late complications.  \u201cFrequently seen early complications include bleeding, infection, and urinary retention. In general, fewer immediate complications are seen with type 1 FGC, with bleeding and urinary retention still occurring at low rates,\u201d the report reads (see page 623). The report further noted that the common late complications from FGM can be organised by the \u201ctype of symptom, with most falling into categories of urinary complications, scarring, pain, infection, infertility, and sexual dysfunction.\u201d Similarly, a report authored by a senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and a researcher at the Africa Coordinating Centre for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation\/Cutting (ACCAF), Dr Samuel Kimani, revealed the practice has serious health consequences for girls and women. The report titled, Health impacts of female genital mutilation\/cutting: a synthesis of the evidence revealed that, \u201cThe health impacts associated with FGM\/C that require interventions have been broadly categorised into immediate, genito-urinary, gynaecological, obstetric, sexual and psycho-social consequences.\u201d See paragraph 3 of page iv of the report. \u201cThe cutting of women\u2019s and girls\u2019 clitoris and labia is usually done with crude unsterile instruments and without anaesthesia by traditional practitioners who have little knowledge of female anatomy\u2014the cutting results in immediate harm. Bleeding (haemorrhage) occurs due to laceration or severing of branches of the pudendal or clitoral arteries, which have high blood pressure, causing a strong flow of blood during and shortly after the cutting process,\u201d the report said. See paragraph 2 of page 5 of the report. DUBAWA contacted a human rights activist in The Gambia, Fatou Suna, who said female genital mutilation is a human rights violation and has a lot of health issues. \u201cOver the past few months, I joined a team that went out to different communities and engaged women and girls on this FGM issue, but even those who were conducting it testified that the practice is harmful,\u201d she said. The Communications Officer for Catch Them Young, a human rights group in The Gambia, told DUBAWA: \u201cWe will continue with the advocacy until we get what we want. We want to make sure that the practice is eradicated in The Gambia and beyond. FGM kills slowly,\u201d she said. Conclusion Based on various research reports authored by reputable health organisations and experts, it is therefore not true that Female Genetic Mutilation (FGM) has no health implications as alleged by the Islamic scholar Imam Abdoulie Fatty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"hannibal_claim_source":"","hannibal_source_label":"","hannibal_card_color":"blue","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_bluesky_share_type":"","_mastodon_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[1571,121,2815],"tags":[],"verdict":[],"ppma_author":[4154],"class_list":["post-18417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fact-check","category-health","category-the-gambia"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8R6dE-4N3","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"authors":[{"term_id":4154,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"nelson-manneh","display_name":"Nelson Manneh","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Female-genital-mutilation-was-banned-in-The-Gambia-in-2015.-Photo-credit-Crosscheckghana-.jpg?fit=512%2C288&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18417"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18417\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18419,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18417\/revisions\/18419"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18417"},{"taxonomy":"verdict","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/verdict?post=18417"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dubawa.org\/dir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=18417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}