Health Workers Amidst FGM Concerns: An Unveiling Trend
Female genital mutilation once curbed is now surging medically. Health workers, urged to halt, are sometimes contributors to this harmful age-old practice.
Medicalization of FGM: A Growing Worry
In a startling turn of events, the global incidence of female genital mutilation (FGM) seems to be gravitating towards a worrying trend—its medicalization. As uncovered by the UN World Health Organization (WHO), about one in every four FGM cases is now conducted by healthcare professionals, making professionalism a new face to an age-old agony.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, voices a clarion call for the medical community to champion change rather than perpetuate this detrimental practice. According to UN News, medical personnel are being called upon to become robust allies in extinguishing FGM, rather than inadvertently endorsing it through surgical precision.
A Global Standoff Against Ancient Practice
Despite the procedure’s dwindling rates since 1990 and an observable decrease in risk for new generations, resistance in 30 countries jeopardizes the safety of four million girls annually. It becomes starkly evident that dangerous traditional practices are hardwired into cultures but can, and are, being addressed through concerted efforts.
Health Workers: Potential Voices for Change
Unexpectedly, healthcare workers emerge as pivotal figures against FGM. Christina Pallitto, a Scientist at WHO and the Human Reproduction Programme (HRP), emphasizes that, with proper training and engagement, they can serve as influential opinion leaders. The WHO’s groundbreaking prevention training equips these professionals to approach communities with cultural sensitivity and informed persuasion.
Global Achievements and Future Directions
Prominent successes have been recorded, as seen in Burkina Faso, where a robust half of FGM practices among younger women are curtailed, alongside significant reductions in Sierra Leone and Ethiopia. Through strategic enforcement and advocacy, these nations illustrate that vibrant political will can actively thwart FGM’s persistence.
Engaging Communities and Sustaining Efforts
The road ahead rests heavily on healthcare practitioners who, as illustrated by a narrative from a recent WHO knowledge hub, are now instrumental in awareness propagation. They stand not as mere caregivers but custodians of thought-leadership and change, nurturing a health landscape where FGM is an antiquated notion.
