Midwife and long-standing FGM campaigner receives national honour

Midwife Comfort Momoh has received a fellowship from the Royal College of Midwives for her work caring for female genital mutilation patients

A midwife has received a national honour for more than 25 years of service caring for patients who have experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) patients and campaigning against the practice.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust FGM and public health specialist Comfort Momoh has been awarded a fellowship by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM). She is the first FGM specialist to receive the honour.

Dr Momoh, who set up one of the UK’s first FGM clinics at Guy’s Hospital in London in 1997, received the award at the RCM’s annual lecture in Leeds last week.

Collaboration and empowerment

She said: ‘It is an honour to be awarded one of the first ever fellowships by the RCM. Collaboration and empowerment is the key to changing and saving lives.

‘With the support of organisations like the college, one day we will see an end to FGM.’

The fellowship recognises people who provide exceptional leadership and excellence in practice, education or research in midwifery.

Dr Momoh has been an expert witness at parliamentary hearings on FGM in England, Scotland and Wales. She also provides training and speaks about FGM issues in the UK and abroad. She received an MBE in 2008 for her services to women's health.

RCM president Lesley Page said: ‘Comfort’s work around FGM has made a huge contribution in bringing this terrible practice to public attention.’