Advocating for access to Reconstruction Surgery with Emotional support for FGM survivors in the UK
ACERS-UK
For our listening event in September 2024, we had a wonderful turnout, of more than 80 attendees (all women apart from 3 men) and representatives from several charitable organisations showing their support, including FORWARD-UK, Manor Gardens – The Dahlia Project, Midaye, Oxford Against Cutting, NESTAC, Body and Soul, Sister Circle and Barnardo’s National FGM Centre.
We had fantastic presentations including:-
Welcome by Professor Suzy Elneil (Uro-gynaecologist and Neurologist from UCLH); a presentation on the latest evidence by Consultant Aurora Almadori, (Plastic surgeon, Royal Free hospital); a presentation and live question and answer session from Switzerland with Consultant Jasmine Abdulcadir, (Obstetrician/Gynaecologist from the HUG clinic in Geneva); and finally our wonderful psychological therapists, Christie Cohoe and Njomeza Kartollazi (from Manor Gardens, Dahlia Project) ended the event with a presentation of our findings from consultations with FGM survivors asking for their views on reconstruction surgery. Also thanks to our wonderful Arabic and Somali translators, Mariam, Sama and Fatma from FORWARD-UK; and to Gadir (Suhad’s daughter) for organising a fantastic musical interlude; and finally a very special thank you to artist and activist AIDA who displayed her amazing artwork!!!
Incredible artwork by AIDA
THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME TO GIVE THEIR SUPPORT and thank you to the whole team @ACERS_UK
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