Ahmed Wetaka
9 December 2002
Kampala — The Reproductive Education and Community Health Organisation(REACH) project, is a saviour for the Sabiny community, as they fight against the cultural practice of female genital mutilation.
Started in 1996, REACH is a brainchild of a resolution adopted
at the international conference on population and development in Cairo. The resolution states that everyone, "has the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standards of physical and
mental health."
Funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), REACH is
implemented by the Kapchorwa local government. REACH has among its goals, the enhancement of reproductive health conditions of all people where FGM is practiced, through discarding of
the harmful practice of the FGM. It calls for promotion of good cultural values and making quality reproductive services accessible to the communities. The project enjoys support from the local
community including the Sebei Elders Association (SEA).
REACH has trained several traditional birth attendants and peer groups to ensure the messages reach down the grassroots. So far REACH has trained and registered over 354 traditional
birth attendants and peer educators. "Some youths may not feel free to tell the doctors and counselors their problems but they tend to open up to their peers," said the Branch Manager, Beatrice Chelangat.
Their strategies aim at separating the cultural practice of actual cutting, which is harmful, from the cultural values of
initiation, which need to be promoted. "We have reached the stage of separation between good and bad, we have no fears to male circumcision but what we are advocating for is the proper
maintenance of hygiene during the exercise,"
she said, emphasizing that they are not against cultural practices.
Cultural days have also been introduced at the district and sub- county level. Held every Nov 30, the cultural day enables the community to identify successes and failures, and above all, to inform the community about REACH programmes.
REACH also uses health workers as resource persons and counselors. It supports the rehabilitation of health units in remote areas with high FGM prevalence. However several other new health units and aid posts at the lower villages have been put up to take services nearer to the locals.
For efficiency of service delivery, REACH works with other stakeholders in the district including, the Sebei Elders
Association (SEA), Ministry of Health, Population Secretariat and UNFPA who are the special donors.
The chairman Sebei Elders Association (SEA) William Cheborion says the elders body was established in 1992 with the aim
of fighting FGM and other harmful practices among the Sabiny community, but it was grossly ineffective until REACH came to their rescue. "
Through seminars, training workshop and cultural day celebrations organised by REACH, participants are able to learn and share experiences on their anti female genital cutting crusades.
Cheborion says that through the REACH partnership with the elders association, there are some changes especially in FGM practices.
He says looking at the statistics, 971 girls were mutilated in 1990, which represented 40 percent of the girl population; 1994 had 854 girls, while by 1996, only 544 undertook the exercise. This is a clear indication that there is a decline in the practice he said. " I feel what we have been telling the community has sank because of
what we see happening now," Chellangat adds.
"Though usually the number of cases undertaking FGM during odd years is lower than that of even years, no girl was circumcised in 1997 and 1999," she added.
REACH has also been able to succeed in the creation of a free and conducive environment on the discussion of FGM that was not the case before. Today, there are several groups including school children, who act drama pieces to clearly portray the dangers associated with FGM.
There is also remarkable improvement in the
reproductive health services delivery, especially after the rehabilitation and equipping of health units in rural areas, and the maternity unit of Kapchorwa hospital. The success of the REACH programme that has attracted other development partners, like the Family Planning Association of Uganda, US-Uganda Godparents Association on Female Genital Mutilation, ActionAid, World Vision among others.
Kapchorwa Resident District Commissioner, Tezira Jamwa also testifies about the increasing role-played by REACH in as far as fighting FGM. Tezira says that through REACH programmes, the practice has reduced by 90 percent. "REACH is doing a good job but there are saboteurs who do not want the programme to prosper," said Jamwa during Kongasis County pre-cultural day held at Namanang Secondary School on Nov 15.
REACH has learnt that one of the main reasons for the survival of FGM is the social pressure on the uncircumcised girls, mainly by the in-laws.
UNFPA's representative during Kongasis county Pre-cultural day celebration Lydia Wanyoto said, FGM will steadily decline with increased numbers of girls attaining at least secondary education. The inclusion of all harmful aspects of FGM in the school health curriculum of upper primary and secondary schools will serve to eradicate the practice.
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