First FGM Surgery Masterclass held in Geneva, 16th & 17th February, 2024

Representatives from the UK’s ACERS-UK project (Advocating Research into Clitoral Reconstruction Surgery and Emotional Support for FGM Survivors), Juliet Albert (FGM Specialist Midwife, The Sunflower clinic, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and PhD student at University of Nottingham) and Dalia Saidan (Uro-gynaecology Consultant from Croydon Hospital NHS Trust and the Calabash clinic), participated in a two-day workshop from February 16th to 17th, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland hosted by the Swiss Foundation for Innovation and Training in Surgery (SFITS). Two other members of the ACERS-UK team, Aurora Almadori (Plastic Surgeon, Royal Free hospital) and Huda Mohamed (Specialist FGM Midwife, Whittington Hospital NHS trust) also joined on-line. 

Led by Dr. Abdulcadir Jasmine, a gynecologist and surgeon at the HUG – Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve, this masterclass aimed to provide an in-depth anatomical understanding of the vulva post-FGM/C. The event facilitated discussions on surgical techniques developed by Dr. Pierre Foldes and Dr. O’Dey, M.D., Ph.D. It also showcased ongoing research projects and advancements, alongside shared experiences by survivors and related associations. Dr. O’Dey, M.D., Ph.D., notably presented his innovative clitoral reconstruction technique during a live dissection, currently implemented in Germany and Tanzania. We met other international teams from Belgium CEMAVIE clinic; France, Netherlands, Egypt, USA and Switzerland. 

If you want to find out more information about reconstruction surgery and the work of our project, please email Juliet at juliet.albert@nhs.net

Please sign and share our petition advocating for research into clitoral reconstruction and psychotherapy for FGM/C survivors in the UK: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/655651

Follow us on socials: @acersuk