On Thursday, the British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director, Leigh Stubblefield, visited the pioneering Nairegie Ekare Level IV Hospital in Suswa, Narok County, marking a significant milestone in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Supported by the UK government, this hospital is the first facility of its kind in Africa, dedicated to both preventing FGM and providing care for its victims.
The visit coincided with the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, a global event that highlights the ongoing need to combat this severe violation of human rights. In his address, Stubblefield emphasized the damaging consequences of FGM, noting that it causes lifelong physical, psychological, and emotional harm. He also spoke out against the medicalisation of FGM, where healthcare providers perform the harmful procedure.
Stubblefield praised the hospital’s efforts in educating healthcare professionals about the dangers of this practice, underscoring the importance of raising awareness that there is no medical justification for FGM. The UK remains committed to ending this practice, with Stubblefield reiterating the country’s dedication to eliminating FGM both today and in the future.
The Nairegie Ekare Hospital has become a model for FGM prevention, with support from the UK government through The Girl Generation Programme. The hospital works closely with Narok County to integrate FGM prevention and care services into routine clinical services. Medical students from Egerton University, trained through the Africa Coordination Centre for Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (ACCAF) curriculum, have benefitted from UK-funded skills labs and hands-on experience at the facility. These students are now better equipped to provide care and confidently speak out about the dangers of FGM.
A key figure in this initiative, Samuel Kimani, an Associate Professor at ACCAF, pointed out the lack of a standardized curriculum to train medical professionals in FGM prevention and response. Since then, the program has trained 209 lecturers, bringing a unified approach to tackling FGM across the region.
In addition to the hospital visit, the British team met with anti-FGM school clubs at St Anthony’s Girls’ and Boys’ High School, which have been supported by AMREF and the UK’s partnership. These clubs run educational initiatives such as skits and art sessions to raise awareness about FGM, helping empower students to challenge the societal norms that perpetuate gender-based violence.
The visit highlighted the ongoing progress being made in Narok County, with the UK’s continued support playing a crucial role in the fight to eliminate FGM.
