Comfort Momoh
Encyclopedia
Comfort Iyabo Amah Momoh is a midwife in England who specializes in the study and treatment of female genital mutilation (FGM). Originally from Nigeria, she is a public health official at Guy's Hospital
in London, where in 1997 she set up the African Well Women's Clinic, dedicated to caring for women affected by FGM. In 1999 she worked as an adviser to the World Health Organization
on the issue of FGM, and in 2001 represented the UK at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
.
Momoh is the editor of Female Genital Mutilation (2005). In 2008 she was awarded an MBE
for services to women's healthcare, and an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University. She holds an MA from the University of London, and is an honorary lecturer there.
in 1997, 135 million females around the world have experienced FGM.
Momoh is sought out by women in the UK who have undergone one form of the procedure—Type III FGM, which involves removing the clitoris
, most of the labia, and closing the vagina
and pubic area, leaving only a small hole for the passage of urine and menstrual blood. As a result the women need help when giving birth. Momoh is the only midwife in the country who reverses FGM by opening up the seal and reforming the labia. Other types of FGM (Types I and II) involve removal of the clitoral hood
, the clitoris and/or the labia minora
, but leave the vagina open and the labia majora
intact.
Momoh said in 2005 that research in 2000 had revealed there were 74,000 women and girls living in the UK who had experienced some form of FGM, and 7,000 girls at risk of having it done. According to The Guardian between 500 and 2,000 British girls from immigrant families are believed to undergo FGM every year. Some undergo the procedure in the UK after the family flies in a traditional circumciser from Africa. These are known as "house doctors," because they carry out FGM in people's homes. Others are taken overseas. The Guardian writes that the six-week-long school summer holiday in the UK is for these girls the most dangerous time of the year. Momoh told the newspaper in 2005: "If a girl tells her teacher she is going back to her country of origin for the summer, for example, and her mother says that when she comes back she will be a woman, the teacher needs to start asking questions. It is too late once the child returns."
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
in London, where in 1997 she set up the African Well Women's Clinic, dedicated to caring for women affected by FGM. In 1999 she worked as an adviser to the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
on the issue of FGM, and in 2001 represented the UK at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council , one of the main UN organs within the United Nations.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender...
.
Momoh is the editor of Female Genital Mutilation (2005). In 2008 she was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for services to women's healthcare, and an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University. She holds an MA from the University of London, and is an honorary lecturer there.
Work with female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision and female genital cutting, is defined by the World Health Organization as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons." It is conducted for cultural reasons in 28 countries in western, eastern, and north-eastern Africa, in parts of Asia and the Middle East, and within some immigrant communities in Europe and North America. According to Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
in 1997, 135 million females around the world have experienced FGM.
Momoh is sought out by women in the UK who have undergone one form of the procedure—Type III FGM, which involves removing the clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
, most of the labia, and closing the vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
and pubic area, leaving only a small hole for the passage of urine and menstrual blood. As a result the women need help when giving birth. Momoh is the only midwife in the country who reverses FGM by opening up the seal and reforming the labia. Other types of FGM (Types I and II) involve removal of the clitoral hood
Clitoral hood
In female human anatomy, the clitoral hood, , is a fold of skin that surrounds and protects the clitoral glans. It develops as part of the labia minora and is homologous with the foreskin in male genitals.-Variation:This is a protective hood of skin that covers the clitoral glans...
, the clitoris and/or the labia minora
Labia minora
The labia minora , also known as the inner labia, inner lips, or nymphae, are two flaps of skin on either side of the human vaginal opening, situated between the labia majora...
, but leave the vagina open and the labia majora
Labia majora
The labia majora are two prominent longitudinal cutaneous folds that extend downward and backward from the mons pubis to the perineum and form the lateral boundaries of the pudendal cleft, which contains the labia minora, interlabial sulci, clitoral hood, clitoral glans, frenulum clitoridis, the...
intact.
Momoh said in 2005 that research in 2000 had revealed there were 74,000 women and girls living in the UK who had experienced some form of FGM, and 7,000 girls at risk of having it done. According to The Guardian between 500 and 2,000 British girls from immigrant families are believed to undergo FGM every year. Some undergo the procedure in the UK after the family flies in a traditional circumciser from Africa. These are known as "house doctors," because they carry out FGM in people's homes. Others are taken overseas. The Guardian writes that the six-week-long school summer holiday in the UK is for these girls the most dangerous time of the year. Momoh told the newspaper in 2005: "If a girl tells her teacher she is going back to her country of origin for the summer, for example, and her mother says that when she comes back she will be a woman, the teacher needs to start asking questions. It is too late once the child returns."
See also
- 2008 New Year Honours
- Foundation for Women's Health, Research and DevelopmentFoundation for Women's Health, Research and DevelopmentThe Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development is a British charity, founded in 1983 by Efua Dorkenoo, that provides support for women affected by female genital mutilation . It also works to end the practice, and campaigns against child/forced marriage. The organization runs several...
- Prevalence of female genital mutilation by countryPrevalence of female genital mutilation by countryFemale genital mutilation is practised in 28 countries in western, eastern, and north-eastern Africa, in parts of Asia and the Middle East, and within some immigrant communities in Europe and North America, according to the World Health Organization...
Further reading
- "Global Consultants", accessed 7 September 2011.
- BBC Radio 4. "One woman’s fight against female circumcision", interview on Women's Hour with Comfort Momoh, 26 October 2006.
- "Hospitals and Clinics in the UK offering Specialist FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) Services", FORWARD, accessed 7 September 2011.