FGM Activist Ifrah Ahmed Demands Better Care for Pregnant Women and Female Asylum Seekers.

Ireland, a nation known for its progressive stance on human rights, is being called out for failing to adequately support asylum seekers affected by female genital mutilation (FGM). The prominent Irish-Somali anti-FGM activist, Ifrah Ahmed, has voiced her disappointment over the current state of care for these women, especially pregnant asylum seekers housed outside of Dublin. Her powerful words demand urgent action and cast a spotlight on a troubling gap in Ireland’s support system.

While visiting Nairobi, Kenya, this week, Tánaiste Micheál Martin met with Ifrah Ahmed, a survivor of FGM and a tireless campaigner against this brutal practice. Ifrah, who sought asylum in Ireland in 2006, expressed pride in the support her activism has garnered in Ireland but stressed that the support for newly-arrived asylum seekers is far from sufficient.

Female genital mutilation, a horrific procedure involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, leads to severe health complications, including severe bleeding, urination issues, cysts, infections, and complications during childbirth, often resulting in newborn deaths. In Somalia, the prevalence of FGM is alarmingly high, with 98% of women undergoing the procedure.

Ifrah’s frustration was palpable as she spoke to Irish reporters in Nairobi. She lamented the ongoing need to campaign for basic medical support for young women in Ireland. A critical issue she raised was the lack of female translators during medical appointments, which is vital for ensuring comfort and understanding for FGM survivors. She also highlighted the stark disparity in care between women in Dublin and those in other parts of the country.

Reflecting on her own experience, Ahmed recalled arriving in Ireland without knowledge of the dangers of FGM until a healthcare worker informed her. She considers herself fortunate to have received the support she did, a stark contrast to the grim reality faced by many women today. “There are many refugee centres outside Dublin, and we should not forget about their humanity. We should remember these women,” Ifrah emphasized, noting that the influx of asylum seekers in recent years has exacerbated the situation.

Ifrah recently met with a group of female asylum seekers in Dublin and was deeply moved by their harrowing stories. The stark contrast between her experience and theirs filled her with a sense of shame and urgency. “It made me really uncomfortable telling them my story because when they were telling me the things they have been through, the support they needed, they could not get,” she said.

At the very least, Ifrah argues, there should be medical leaflets on FGM and specific training for doctors working outside of Dublin. The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, responded to her concerns by acknowledging the unacceptable disparity in care. “I will talk to my colleagues in that regard in the Department of Health and Children to make sure that access is there. We have many major hospitals outside of Dublin; there’s no excuse for that. I’ll work on that,” he assured.

Ifrah Ahmed’s organization, the Ifrah Foundation, continues to campaign tirelessly against FGM. The foundation’s ‘Dear Daughter’ campaign in Somalia encourages individuals to pledge to protect their daughters from FGM, with 100,000 pledges made so far. Ahmed remains hopeful that the Somalian government will soon pass legislation to outlaw FGM, a goal that has long seemed elusive.

“I have been so disappointed for so many years, but I am now sure that it will be different and they will actually successfully pass the bill,” she said.

As Ireland grapples with this call to action, it stands at a crossroads. Will it rise to the challenge and ensure that all asylum seekers, regardless of where they are housed, receive the care and support they desperately need? The eyes of the world are watching, and the voices of those like Ifrah Ahmed demand to be heard.