The main cause of infertility in Africa is infectious diseases which may be sexually transmitted (STD’s) or caused by traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and home deliveries in unhygienic conditions.
These infections if left untreated often result in bilateral tubal occlusion. Primary prevention should therefore include educating the people on these subjects. Focus should be on informing young people on how to avoid STD’s.
We aim to open dialogue and educate people on reproductive health and rights in general, infertility and related subjects such as family planning, contraception, FGM, child marriage etc. in particular.
We are focusing on these four fonts:
Schools & Youth Organizations Reproductive health issues are not discussed with adolescent girls who are the group most at risk from the main causes of infertility such as STDs and infections caused by female genital mutilation. We aim to introduce reproductive health education to the schools with presentations and workshops. The best way to demonstrate our commitment to the cause and to these schools is by donating the necessary posters and pamphlets and stocking the library with appropriate texts.
Health Centres & Clinics Medical staff in The Gambia are already overstretched and infertility is not a priority. Infertile women may be wrongly or over-prescribed with drugs or treated with unnecessary or harmful procedures such as D & C. We aim to educate health care professionals with the current insights and guidelines for infertility care and create a standardized process for diagnosis and treatment.
Established Women’s Organizations There’s a number of well established women’s organisations active in the Gambia dedicated to different topics concerning women and girl’s empowerment and well-being. Examples are Gamcotrap (addressing FMG) and Women in Development. We aim to work alongside these organisations to add value to the work that they are doing and increase the impact of these joint ventures on women’s issues.
Traditional Women’s Groups Kanyaleng are groups of women united by their reproductive difficulties. These women all know the agony of unwanted childlessness, either through infertility of child mortality. Almost every village or suburban neighborhood in The Gambia has its own group of Kanyaleng. They create strong support networks in which they try to achieve their goals through work and prayer. Kanyalengs often perform at public gatherings and celebrations such as weddings and naming ceremonies and are well known and respected in their communities. We aim to work closely with these women and empower them with the information and materials to educate their local women on the causes and prevention of infertility.