Communities of Busumbala and Old Yundum were educated on the effects and legal implications of FGM\/C.<\/p>\n
The sensitisation happened over the weekend at a school in Old Yundum with more than fifty participants.<\/p>\n
It was organised by Njaboute Foundation, which said it is currently involved in a series of community awareness initiatives such as sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), HIV\/Aids and tuberculosis through Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC). The Foundation hopes these initiatives would arm youths with the required knowledge on SRHR.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Foundation is here to address health issues in the country and support the less privileged,\u201d said Ebrima Bah, its president.
\nFocusing on the topic, he said FGM\/C is a deeply rooted cultural practice often confused with religion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has no health benefits but only causes complications to the life of a woman,\u201d he said.
\nThe former president passed a law in 2015 banning the practice but activists said people are still practicing it.<\/p>\n
Mr Bah therefore called on all Gambians to join hands in the crusade against FGM\/C. He also advised parents to desist from the practice.
\nPain and suffering is what it causes, said the foundation\u2019s administrator, Isatou Bobo.
\n\u201cFGM\/C causes profuse bleeding during labour which leads to hypovolemic shock, severe anaemia and even death if prompt, efficient and effective emergency care is not instituted,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
The legal officer of the foundation, Anna Mendy, informed the gathering that although the practice refuses to entirely go, it remains a criminal offense under the laws of The Gambia. She cited various sections of the Women\u2019s Act to back her argument.
\n\u201cAnyone found guilty is liable to a mandatory jail term of three years, a fine of fifty thousand dalasi or both,\u201d she warned.<\/p>\n
She urged participants to report any case of the practice to police.
\nParticipants were awarded various prizes at the end of the two-day convergence.
\nThe event was sponsored by MMK Gambia Finland Friendship Foundation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Communities of Busumbala and Old Yundum were educated on the effects and legal implications of FGM\/C. The sensitisation happened over the weekend at a school in Old Yundum with more than fifty participants. It was organised by Njaboute Foundation, which said it is currently involved in a series of community awareness initiatives such as sexual […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":3027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[1797,1065],"class_list":["post-3026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","tag-communities-of-busumbala","tag-gambia-news-everyday"],"yoast_head":"\n