A new structure intended to support female victims of excision has just opened.
- Every four minutes in the world, a little girl undergoes excision.
- A new structure intended to support female victims of excision has just opened in the North of France.
- “SAFE offers comprehensive care (gynecological, sexological, psychological and social) adapted to each patient, as well as discussion groups,” explain the members of the new structure.
A new structure intended to support female victims of excision has just opened in the North of France.
“After several years of experimentation and training, it is on the occasion of World Female Genital Mutilation Day (February 6) that the Hospital Group of the Catholic Institute of Lille (GHICL) announces the opening to the general public of SAFE, led by Doctor Estelle Declas, gynecologist at Saint Vincent de Paul hospital”, can we read in a press release.
Excision: multidisciplinary care for female victims
In 2021, the GHICL identified a serious problem in Hauts-de-France, namely the lack of comprehensive support for excised women. Thus, a team was trained for two years to create a Support Service for Excised Women (SAFE), which officially opens its doors to the general public in January 2024.
“One of our patients had to be treated in Paris since there was no Multidisciplinary Center in Hauts-de-France. Following this, we decided to launch the creation of SAFE in within the GHICL. I trained in 2021 and 2022 in Angers on the subject of excision and today, around 50% of my work is dedicated to the care of excised women in the North of France. says Doctor Estelle Declas.
The SAFE is a unit that offers comprehensive care for patients who are victims of female sexual mutilation. “Indeed, beyond the surgical aspect, women victims of this abuse also need multidisciplinary support. This is why SAFE offers comprehensive care (gynecological, sexological, psychological and social) adapted to each patient, as well as discussion groups”, explain the members of the new structure.
As part of the gradual establishment of the unit, around twenty victims have already been treated since 2021. Seven of them have undergone surgery. Ultimately, SAFE wishes to develop and go further, by creating a space in Hauts-de-France dedicated to women and the abuse they may suffer.
A little girl undergoes excision every four minutes in the world
Every four minutes in the world, a little girl undergoes excision.
Mutilated at the age of 5, Halimata recounted her trauma in our columns last year. “She pulled out a knife and that was the start of the nightmare. The witch grabbed my clit and cut it several times. I screamed in pain and blood spurted. I tried to struggle but they held my legs, arms and head to prevent me from moving. Back at the family home, I couldn’t sit down.”
