Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a catastrophic abuse of human rights that harms physical and mental health of millions of women and girls and the treatment cost on the impacts of FGM would be about 1.4 billion dollars per year, which means it drains the economy of many countries, according to the World health Organisation.
The global health organisation has made this revelation on the Intenational Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research director Dr Ian Askew has said that FGM was a real catastrophic abuse of human rights that harms mental and physical health of millions of women and girls. He also said that this was a drain on a country’s economic resources.
Some of the serious health issues of FGM leads to infection, psychological trauma and the women have to face chronic health conditions throughout their life. Apart from this, the women who undergo FGM are more likely to experience life threatening complications during childbirth. It is said that they could face mental disorders or suffer chronic infections and also have pain or issues during menstruation, or sexual intercourse or urination. The WHO says that all these conditions need much care and attention and that it could cost the various countries much dearly.
Acting Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life Course in the African Regional Office of WHO Dr Prosper Tumusiime, said that governments have moral responsibility for ending this unhealthy practise. Pointing out that the practise should be addressed at the earliest and government should take steps to stop this. If this practise is not stopped, the WHO says that the cost involving treatment would soar by 50 per cent over the same time period as population grows and more girls undergo the procedure.
