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Episode details

World Service,13 Nov 2023,15 mins

How removing tattoos can help people cope with trauma

What in the World

Available for over a year

Gang members and victims of sex trafficking are often tattooed against their will. For those who escape, their tattoos become permanent reminders of the pain and suffering they endured. The Radiance Clinic in Boston removes tattoos from survivors for free. Dr. Shadi Kourosh, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard, tells us how this can help people cope with trauma. We also hear from nurse practitioner Rachel Niemiec who advocates for fellow trafficking survivors. Plus: Why has Kenya’s government given people a holiday to plant trees? Beverly Ochieng, a BBC reporter in Nairobi, explains. Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams and Benita Barden Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

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