:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*Raising Awareness*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*:

Over the last three years I have dedicated myself to my midwifery training, it has been equally one of the hardest and most rewarding experiences. During this time I have embraced one of midwifery's most important roles - as a public health ambassador, aiming to provide evidence based information to help women and families and reduce continuing health inequalities. I would like to end my training by visiting the Maasai Tribe in Kenya to raise awareness about the damaging practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and promote Optimal Cord Clamping (OCC).

In 2011 the cultural practice of FGM became illegal in Kenya however this political driver has not been effective at reducing practice and many women still suffer the physical and emotional consequences of cutting. This complex subject must be handled sensitively as it is such a strongly ingrained cultural belief within the Maasai communities. Criminalisation has unfortunately led to cutting ceremonies going underground and puts the lives of vulnerable children at risk of abandonment, poverty and abuse.

Raising these funds will mean I will be able to participate in the education of the women and men of the tribe to try to disprove myths, empower women and protect them from this practice which increases risk of infection, sepsis, fistulas, vaginal prolapse, makes childbirth dangerous and is a fundamental violation of human rights.

I will also continue my work to promote optimal cord clamping of babies. The Kenya Clinical Guidelines for Management and Referral of Common Conditions stipulate that a household must make some decisions in advance about what to do during labour. It also states that a skilled attendant should know when to cut the umbilical cord but unfortunately many midwives have adopted the practice of cutting the cord immediately. I will take www.bloodtobaby.com resources to distribute to the tribe.