By: Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly Member for Badibou Central,Sulayman Saho, has challenged the director of health services at the Ministry of Health Dr. Mustapha Bittayeto provide evidence of FGM/C death in The Gambia.
During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Health, Disaster, Humanitarian Relief and Refugees, Gender Children and Social Welfare andthe ministries of justice and health earlier this week,regarding the ministries’ position on the women’s amendment bill, the lawmaker also tasked Dr. Bittayeto provide the list of FGM/C victims.The Central Baddibu representative further asked the director of health services as to whether the JusticeMinistry had an alternative to the Women’s Amendment Act, as according to him, everyone knows how the bill, leading to its enactment, came to parliament. He added that the decision emanated from the top, reminding the Justice Ministry that a backup is needed in case Almamy Gibba’s bill is thrown out of parliament.
“We need Gambian research evidence and you don’t expect us as a country to rely on the research of another country over FGM/C. That cannot be accepted. As lawmakers, the evidence will convince and guide usin making the right decision,” he asserted.In his response, Dr. Bittaye said that as health officials, they were at the Assembly to guide the House in its decision-making around FGM/C.
“There are a lot of international data showing the harmful effects of FGM/C. We don’t wait for people to die. Instead, we look for precautions against death,” he added.
According to him, FGM/C is a deeply-rooted practice and it is mostly practiced on girls by the elderly, saying people practice it based on tradition or religion.
He explained that FGM/C was banned in 2015 but not much enforcement of the ban, adding that the practicehad caused a lot of complications.
Dr. Bittaye told the committee that after cutting, the girl might feel acute pain, shock, and even damage tosome organs, which can eventually lead to death.
He said that the health ministry’s position “is that the practice is harmful and the law should be maintained”.
He stated that more advocacy and sensitization are needed on the effects of FGM/C.
