By MN Reporter
The 4D Last Mile, a non-government organization fighting gender based violence among the minority Kuria community has mapped out data from young girls.
The organization took data from 1,500 school girls across 15 primary and secondary schools in the community based in Migori county to help fight Female Genital Mutilation.
Eulidaice Mogesi a field officer at the organization said they picked girls in the age of facing FGM and they gave their data.
“They included area of residence, nyumba kumi elders and parents contacts and if they are at risk of facing the cut which will be key in monitoring as most managed to escape the last circumcision period in rescue center and will help in alerting stakeholders over risk,” Mogesi said.
While the circumcision period is set for December holidays, she said they started early to be able to educate the girls and their parents on negative effects of FGM.
In December the organization rescued 100 girls at Kubweye Primary School and was among seven rescue centers which managed to rescue almost 2,000 girls from the cut.
“We realized since circumcision has gone underground because of illegality, the vice is done at night which makes it ideal to collect data,” Mogesi said.
Catherine Tingo the Kuria East Gender officer at the Ministry of Health lauded the move as key in ensuring girls are secure in and outside rescue centers.
“Those such data we will have a long circle of stakeholders from parents, administrators police, medics and teachers which will give us enough time to rescue girls,” Tingo said.
Jane Mohabe, a parent at Nyamanche Primary School in Kegonga sub-county said she was happy after her daughter Rael Boke, 14 was among those who were picked for surveillance.