A group of residents of Mata village in Taita Taveta County have gathered under a tree to shield themselves from the scorching sun. When Habiba Suleiman, a midwife at Taveta Sub-County Hospital rises to speak, everyone is attentive as she passionately appeals to residents to stop the inhuman act of circumcising infants. “It is very painful to see infants barely a week old brought to the health facility in pain after undergoing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM),” says Ms Suleiman. HotspotsIn addition, 22 per cent of children aged between 5-9 years and 11.1 per cent of children aged between 10-14 years have been subjected to the cut. Health facilitiesToday, Ms Suleiman works with the community to protect infants, support girls and enforce laws to make sure violations are adequately addressed.

Source: Daily Nation August 26, 2020 06:45 UTC