Female Genital Mutilation - A Catalyst for High Maternal Mortality Rates

According to WHO (2014), Female Genital Multilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. FGM also comprises 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. In Kenya FGM is outlawed and Kenya has duly signed laws with the international community outlawing the same.
Recently women from Kajiado Constituency requested the government to have FGM made legal so as to allow for the culture to continue. This women constitute the Maasai community - one of the communities that still practice FGM. After the request was made, a debate went into parliament with most of the MPs denying the request all except one Jimmy Angwenyi MP of Kitutu Chache North. He wnet ahead to make his argument bu saying "Madam Speaker, we should not criminalize our cultures as Africans yet this House has not implemented any law to criminalize gayism borrowed from foreign countries. These gays are freely and openly demonstrating for their rights. FGM should not be criminalized because we in Kisii allow only for a small cut for our girls" (Kisika, 2014).
Kenya currently high maternal rates of 360 deaths per 100,000 have increased in the last one year rather than declining and are a source of concern. We are currently placed at position 30 of having the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. One of the long term risks of FGM is an increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths. The country needs to focus more on practices that will bring about the well being of the woman who is the basic foundation of any community. FGM is one of the culprits that needs to curbed once and for all and remove such backward thoughts as harbored by Jimmy Angwenyi.

Sources:

Kisika, S., 2014. MP finds himself in trouble for supporting FGM. [Online]
Available at: http://m.news24.com/kenya/MyNews24/MP-finds-himself-in-trouble-for-supporting-FGM-20140619
[Accessed 20 June 2014].

World Health Organization, 2014. Fact Sheets N°241. [Online]
Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/
[Accessed 20 June 2014].