Abstract:
The present Manual and its 10 modules aim to be part of the Academic Curriculum for the faculties and schools where health students are trained. It is based on the Manual on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting for Health Professionals (2010) published for The Gambia, integrated in all health studies in the country. For example, in Medicine, the FGM/C issue was integrated into six subjects: anatomy, physiology, psychology, G&O, paediatrics and community medicine. The project follows the scientific methodology developed and implemented by The Transnational Observatory of Applied Research to New Strategies for the Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting under the Wassu-UAB Foundation, with two research centres: one in The Gambia, through the NGO Wassu Gambia Kafo, and one in Spain, through the Interdisciplinary Research Group for the Prevention and Study of Harmful Traditional Practices at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Qualitative and clinical knowledge is generated through applied research and transferred to key social actors (governmental and non-governmental institutions; health, social and educative services; health professionals and students; community and religious leaders, traditional birth attendants and circumcisers). The outcome is to empower them to be the ones who transfer this knowledge to their communities, promoting preventive actions for the abandonment of the practice.