Female genital mutilation has been
the major contributor for fistula cases among the Orma and Somali women in Lamu
county.
Witu hospital in charge Ben Mwarabu
said that all the 90% referrals from the community (chalaluma,DideWaride)
are difficulties in delivery as a result of mutilation that has been done.
The medical officer said that the
mothers attended to at the facility majority end up not going home with the
kids since they die during delivery as a result of difficulties during
delivery.
He said that they normally get calls
from the communities for referrals mostly at night after the tradition birth
attendant has not successfully been able to assist the mother to give birth, complicating
the delivery more.
"What I am urging expectant
mothers from the Orma and Somali communities is to visit any health facility
when they are due to avoid unnecessary complications that we have witnessed
while assisting them to
give birth"said Mwarabu.
He said that the areas they
get calls are dangerous to get to, the villages are in very dangerous areas.
"When I get a call from
Chalaluma or Dide Waride I have to first plan how to get to the area since
there are no roads,as a medic at night I cannot endanger the lives of my
workers since the area is very insecure" Mwarabu added.
Mwarabu also added that those that
come to deliver have been married off at a very early age saying that when
delivery due to their age, the body not we'll formed they end up getting
fistula from the complications.
"It is very hurting and
demoralizing to a medic who assists a mother to deliver only to lose a child or
a mother during delivery, most of the young mothers who come to deliver had
been married off at a very young tender age making them get fistula due to
complications" the medical officer added.
Witu division assistant county
commissioner Emmanuel Koech has given parents of the Orma and Somali
communities who are marrying off their young girls to old men a Stern
warning to stop.
Koech said that the division that
has the communities who are known to marry off their young girls at a tender
age will be arrested and prosecuted.
The administrator said that the
young girls are supposed to be in school not making them mothers at a tender age
saying that is destroying their lives.
Koech said any parent found marrying
off their daughters will be arrested and taken to court saying that some
traditions have already been passed by events and times.
This comes after the Lamu chief of
staff Mohamed Bute is alleged to have married a 16 year old girl from
Chalaluma.
The administrator said that such
traditions have already been passed by time,the girl child is supposed to be in
school learning not a wife.
Sentiments were echoed by area
member of the county assembly Jonathan Mketta who said that 98%of young girls
who are supposed to be in school today married off to old women per the
traditions.
Mketta said alot of Civic education
need to be done to the community citing that even the most educated, serving
big positions in government when at the village doesn't have a voice on the
vice being done.
"Even those in big offices or
have big positions in government do not have a voice on any traditions being
practiced they cannot point out on either early marriage or even female genital
mutilation for fear of being rejected by the community" said Mketta.
He said that the chiefs, their
assistants are supposed to use their offices strictly to make sure that the
girl child from the Orma community gets education instead of being married
while young.
"The exercise can be stopped by
the chiefs and their assistants if at all they are serious but how can they
fight it yet they are marrying such young girls, they have to be an
example" said Mketta.
The MCA said it's a collective
matter that will not be taken lightly by the communities practicing it saying
that the communities have to be involved.
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