Dr. Caroline Munyi:

The Deputy asked how the model should look. That is a very good question. First and foremost is the national action plan, which AkiDwa is agitating for and which we want to be Government-led. The national action plan will ensure FGM services in Ireland are streamlined. Streamlining means a woman can walk into any hospital in Ireland. Let us say this woman is living in Clonakilty in Cork. She can go to Cork University Hospital and be triaged, taken to the relevant department and seen by a doctor. She does not have to go to Dublin for this or that. If that could be streamlined, that would be very good. It would also reduce the stigma, which we know is an issue. When women have to go to Dublin, it is very stigmatising. Most of these women are very poor. They do not have a lot of resources at their disposal, especially those who are living in direct provision centres. They have children to look after. Again I will use the example of someone living in Clonakilty. Those barriers could be halved. There is also the cost of childcare. This woman could just go into a hospital and be seen and have everything tackled there without stigma. This will require training for our doctors to take care of FGM-related needs, both physical and psychological, as well as cultural appropriateness. That will also come as part of the wraparound nature of the supports. As Dr. Mbugua said, AkiDwa is leading in training professionals in the sector on healthcare, cultural appropriateness and cultural competence. The national action plan will streamline services for women, both psychological and physical, because women who have gone through FGM face very serious and severe mental health consequences. That can only be tackled through that streamlining of services.