Hundreds of people on Saturday gathered at the Independence Stadium to witness the certificate and insignia award ceremony, organised in honour of 18 ex-circumcisers and their communities, as part of the landmark achievement of The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) to stop Female Genital Mutilation and other harmful traditional practices.
The award ceremony and celebration that was marked in a grand style, attracted people from different walks of life, including Secretaries of State, MP’s, members of the diplomatic and counselor corps, religious leaders, UN agencies, school children and Jaliba Kuyateh.
Speaking at the occasion Dr Tamsir Mbowe, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare deputising for the Vice President Dr Aja Isatou Njie-Saidy, said the celebration is a mark of increasing maturity to the values and taboos surrounding Gamcotrap, he noted that our indigenenous culture is held a high esteem in some quarters, but the surgical aspects of it have attributed to causal factors of some health hardzards.

Dr Tamsir Mbowe added that the decision to abandon FGM due to health concerns is indeed commendable. He emphasized that this should not extend to the denigration of it because it has been identified as part of the process of socialization, adding that this achievement has been made possible by the true spirit of cross-cultural tolerance which is the hallmark of participatory democracy. He commended GAMCOTRAP for their promotion of a democratic culture and development orientation of their work as indicated by piloting with the concerned circumcisers on alternative employment opportunities.
He expressed delight for GAMCOTRAP’s linkage with the relevant institutions in governance, the private sector, civil society organisations, UN agencies and the diplomatic community.  These linkages have been contributory factors in the progress registered in advocacy for the benefit of women and children. "This integrated approach has enhanced and complimented the government’s ability to live up to expectations in terms of social, political, economic and cultural responsibilities," he stated.

Dr Mbowe expressed gratitude to his department and GAMCOTRAP for raising awareness of certain communities to enable them to critically assess the dangers of female circumcision.
For her part, Dr Isatou Touray, the executive director of GAMCOTRAP, said not to cut is a very positive step, adding it makes girls beautiful and proud in their communities. "Culture is beautiful when it is positive," she stated.
Dr Touray said it was a challenge, but they were able to register this achievement through positive dialogue. She commended the government and other partners for their support which enabled them to achieve this success. Dr Touray thanked women for dropping their knives for circumcising girls.
Dr Nestor Shivuti World Healh Organisation representative said the complication of FGM that includes severe pain, bleeding, urine retention, ulceration of the genital region and injury of adjacent tissues can result in death,  adding that WHO maintains that FGM is deterious to the health of women and children. He revaealed that 2 million people, the majority of whom are girls, subjected to FGM are at risk, adding that it is recognised as a form of violence against women and children. He said it is an obstacle to the attainment of the global development and human rights for women.
Dr Nestor Shivuti noted that FGM can be eliminated through the existing primary health care programmes.

Ame David, Programme Coordinator of Save the Children Dakar branch, said Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of children’s rights that is why they are financing NGO’s to fight FGM in Africa for the past 25 years. She commended GAMCOTRAP for their tireless efforts and sacrifices they made to make ex-circumcisers realise the danger in FGM and other traditional harmful practices. Ms David lauded government for creating the enabling environment for women to stop FGM. She said this manifests government concerns for its citizens’ health.
She further urged parents to educate children on sexual reproductive health, adding Save the Children is ready to support children in any possible alternative for better living condition.