What do you know about female genital mutilation? Or what have you heard …

According to the world health organization these are some of the key facts 

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
• The practice has no health benefits for girls and women.
• FGM can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, as well as complications in childbirth and increased risk of newborn deaths.
• More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where FGM is practiced(1).
• FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and age 15.
• FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
• There is evidence suggesting greater involvement of health care providers in the practice. This is known as medicalization.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is opposed to all types of FGM, and is opposed to health care providers performing FGM.
• Treatment of the health complications of FGM in 27 high prevalence countries is estimated to cost 1.4 billion USD per year and is projected to rise to 2.3 billion USD by 2047 if no action is taken .

In Zambia female genital mutilation is mostly practiced by pulling of the labia minora ( natively known as ukudonsa)  , most people claim that this has benefits for the woman but if we look at it scientifically,this act can only negatively alter the nerve ending in the female genitalia .

The act has proven to be futile and frowned upon as many people begin to uncover the truth about the act . The former President Edgar Lungu and House of Chiefs did call for and end to FGM which only proves that the practice does indeed do more harm as even the house of chiefs that is intended to protect cultural practices is calling for an end to it .

Although many resources have been made available in Zambia to discourage such practices, there aren’t many shying away from it due to the fact that they believe it’s part of woman hood and way to be accepted for marriage. For the sake of this pride most women put themselves at risk of health complications such as weakened muscles leading to further complications during childbirth, loss of natural aesthetic structure which can affect your confidence and you may also never be able to experience an orgasm as this is the undisclosed truth about FGM practices.

Many young women are unwillingly engaged in FGM practices without being made aware of the risk of losing the pleasure of sex so as to keep you loyal to your spouse. Many documentaries have shown how this practice is only made to disadvantage women from reaching their highest potential of sexual pleasure.

It is important to know that because Zambia is a member state of the United Nations, FGM is a violation of human rights.

International day of zero tolerance against FGM  falls on the 6th Of February and is used worldwide raise awareness on FGM practices .