At a health centre in West Pokot's Masol community, a woman is seated on a hospital bed, breastfeeding her newborn baby. I need to observe her and if all goes well, she can go tomorrow," says Edinah Chepchumba, the nursing officer in charge of Masol Dispensary in West Pokot County. The prevalence of FGM in West Pokot County is approximately 74 per cent based on a 2017 Unicef report. Government statistics show that only 18 percent and 26 percent of pregnant women in West Pokot have the recommended ANCs and deliver at hospitals respectively. Mr Patrick Mugun, the County Child Protection Director in West Pokot states that due to ignorance and low education levels, the community still clings to their culture, which strongly advocates for FGM.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 05, 2019 16:35 UTC