Heartbeat: FGM survivor says clinic is much-needed

November 7, 2019

A female genital mutilation (FGM) survivor has welcomed a new clinic run by our Trust that will offer expert care for victims of the procedure. The “one-stop” support clinic will open in the coming weeks at Summerfield Primary Care Centre in Winson Green.

Figures show that Birmingham has the highest rate of reported new cases of FGM. In Sandwell and West Birmingham there were 310 cases reported in 2018/19. Hilary Garratt, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England, said “These new NHS clinics will benefit hundreds of women who have suffered this most severe form of abuse and violence. These are clinics for women, run by women.

“We’ve listened closely to survivors and their advocates and designed these brand new services with them. These clinics, and the highly-trained staff who will work in them represents a real step-change in the quality and timeliness of support the NHS provides.”

Mum of four, Sarata Jabbi, was aged just seven when she underwent the horrific act in The Gambia and said the facility is “much-needed”. Her parents took her and her sisters to have the procedure after buying them new clothes and telling them that they were going to a party.

Sarata began campaigning in 2002 after working as a journalist and being made aware that the practice was child abuse and not a religious requirement. She continued raising awareness after coming to the UK in 2010.

Sarata said “This is a much needed clinic and will give many victims a safe and confidential way to seek help. There are many women from The Gambia, Somali, Eritrea and other African countries that have suffered. They desperately need treatment as a result of FGM. It is a very good initiative. It’s important that the voices of the victims are being heard”.

The clinic is one of eight to open across the UK, as announced by NHS England as part of its Long Term Plan earlier in September. It has been commissioned by Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The NHS network of clinics will work with local community groups. They’ll be working to prevent future cases of FGM by seeking to change the culture and thinking around it. This will include education on the medical and psychological impact of FGM. As well as this, it will focus on the legal implications of carrying out or participating in it.

The network will be led by specialist doctors, midwives and nurses. It will provide access to specially-trained counsellors for emotional support, as well as FGM Health Advocates for advice on accessing other services locally.

Alison Byrne, Specialist Midwife for FGM will be running the facility. She said: “It’s in the heart of the community and will help many women who sometimes are unsure about how to access care or treatment after undergoing this procedure. We want to push out the message that this clinic is there for them to access and can be done so discreetly in the strictest of confidence.”

Michelle Carolan, Chief Officer for Quality at Sandwell and West Birmingham CCG added: “As the majority of women who have had FGM come into contact with NHS services once they are pregnant – usually between the ages of 25 and 35 – the Birmingham clinic will prioritise swift support and treatment for women between 18 and 25, before they become pregnant. The service will also be available to women outside of childbearing years.”