Background

Virtually all women from the Afar people undergo extreme genital mutilation, with total ablation of the clitoris and the labia minora and with an almost total closure of the labia majora (this is known as infibulation and not excision). In zone 5 of the Afar region, this mutilation is carried out mainly in the first week of the little girl’s life.

Virtually all women from the Afar people undergo extreme genital mutilation.

This practice, which dates back to the time of the Pharaohs, has many consequences for the health of women: urinary disorders, amenorrhea, sterility, infections… It also puts the life of the mother and her child in danger during childbirth. For several years, infibulation has tended to be less common in new-borns and the population is increasingly well informed as to the dangers of this practice for the health of women...

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Activities

Women & Children

Eliminating genital mutilation

Raise awareness in communities is essential © Quentin Top

Doctors of the World works in partnership with ACISDA, a local association, to raise awareness in the communities of the risks associated with female genital mutilation.

Groups were formed to carry out awareness building activities – school children, young mothers, pregnant women – as well as committees involving community leaders at district level. Trained mediators run these groups. Religious and traditional leaders are also involved, as are school teachers.

Doctors of the World provides technical support by training healthcare providers in the care of pregnant women with genital mutilations. The association also provides health facilities with medicines and small equipment in order to improve conditions of confinement.

Ethiopie

In 2016

We have :

Run 6,840 awareness building sessions in 228 pupils’ clubs
Run 1,026 awareness building sessions with 342 discussion groups (young mothers, pregnant women…)
Trained 189 nurses in the care of pregnant women with genital mutilations