My FGM reconstruction surgery journey - BBC Africa

Almost 230 million girls and women around the world have undergone some form of female genital mutilation. Over half of them are in Africa. FGM is the partial or total removal of the external female genital organs for non-medical reasons. Shamsa Sharaawe, or Shamsa Araweelo as she is known on TikTok, underwent reconstructive surgery in Europe to repair the damage done to her as a child in Somalia. She spoke to us about her experience.

#fgm #fgmsurgery #fgmstory

Producer: Bushra Mohammed
Cameraman and editor: Ameer Ahmed
Executive producer: Beryl Munoko

[HajaBilkisu]

Hello, I am Haja from the Video. Thanks so much for the support!

[Wtfclfr]

I have the deepest respect for her. She has been fighting for years like a Queen. She is my personal superhero seeing her realize her dream makes me so emotional I am just so proud of her ❤️

[christineom-tiz]

As if being a female isn’t painful enough. I praise our sister for making something so dark less taboo. ❤

[rebwolfe]

You are so strong! To have been abused so badly and now a wonderful life!

[andrealowe]

You are a beautiful woman. I won’t pretend to understand anything you have gone through. You are so strong, kind and selfless to share your personal journey with others.

[ajohonly]

I’m from South Sudan 🇸🇸 we don’t have this but! The child marriages are still happening 😢.
Africa please stop this nonsense.

[AydenRoro]

I was cut when i was 6 years old and a few days ago i found out that my clitoris is missing, I'm 22.
I always wanted to be a mom and get married but i don't want to anymore.

[rebwolfe]

I applaud your bravery! Most wouldn’t have the opportunity or funds. Saddest thing is this should not be necessary if people weren’t so very very cruel in the first place!!!

[AlisonCarson-qj]

Makes me so sad that this is happening even now 😢

[maibege]

Pls lend a voice to the plight of Gambian women as it seems the government is trying to make a legislation to return to the darkness of FGM. This is really destruction of the human rights of women.

[gracefaithjanet]

Great job BBC on this. Q few years ago for the first time they discussed FGM At my job. O was shocked such a practice existed I then told my friend what we learned and how horrible it is and she confided her parents had her do it. I was so shocked and didnt know what to say. I apologised. She said she is always jealous of women who have not had it done and the only ones who didnt have it done in her area where a particular group. The men who demand this are so wicked and evil.

[MariatuAConteh-nf]

I want to do the restore please help 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[iceman]

This is a brave thing to do. Remain strong.

[skinnyzebra]

In the states there’s a great doctor who works on similar patients especially Somali community

[Tina_KF]

For all those commenting about "Africa", a) this practice isn't present in all cultures from the African continent, and b) it is also present in Asia.

[j_tich]

I am so proud of them❤. I hope each and every one of us does whatever they can to stop this, especially us Africans.

[jgjg]

So sad to think something that was part of you was painfully taken away, without your will, only for you to pay in future to get it back. It's so cruel for anyone to think and do this to a child or anyone else against their will.

[FF-byci]

How does it improve sexual pleasure if the reconstruction is tissue taken from the inner thighs, it's plastic surgery to make it look like nothing is missing.

[cultureat]

Can someone direct me on how to access this in italy or German. L live in italy.thank you to you all.

[sylviathomas]

How much price for fgm reconstructive surgery?