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HEALTH FAMILY PROBLEMS RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION & CAREER Dear What's The Problem, I am a 19-year-old student in Accra. I ran away from home when I was seventeen years old because my father tried to force me to have a circumcision and I refused. My mother who supported my decision, managed to persuade a friend of hers to take me into her home. This lady has been very good to me for the last two years and has financially assisted me in my studies. But recently my father found out I was living with her - and started to harass and intimidate this lady. Although She pleaded with my father to leave us in peace, and let me stay with her until I had at least finished my studies, he refused and continued the harassment, so I left. I am now living in a hostel but can't really afford the rent - nor can I continue with my studies, and to make matters worse, my father has now divorced my mother, all because of me. My whole life is a mess. I feel all alone and unable to cope. Out of desperation I have even tried to return to my father's house but he said I've disgraced the family and he will only take me back if I agree to the circumcision. I really don't know what to do, please advice me. Helen Nettey, Ghana. Advice : Comfort Momoh, A midwife and Female Genital Mutilation Specialist. *Unfortunately, Helen maybe forced to give up her studies for a short while, so that she can get a job to support herself. * She should also contact The Association Of Church Education development Project, they are based in Tamali. Their phone number is: 233 7123245. A person from this organisation could also act as a mediator between father and daughter. Such a person could be used to inform Helen and the immediate community that female circumcision is illegal in Ghana. *Helen could also get an elder within the community to talk to her father on her behalf - this is very important. This elder needs to explain to her father that it isn't a disgrace not to be circumcised. *It is very important Helen realises her parents are grown people, they're responsible for the actions they take. She should not feel responsible for their divorce. The What's the Problem? website is providing general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. The BBC is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the What's the Problem? website. Always consult your own GP if you're in any way concerned about your health.		FURTHER INFORMATION   Female genital mutilation: A collective term used for a range of practices involving the removal or alteration of parts of healthy female genitalia. Different degrees of mutilation are practised by a variety of cultural groups. Circumcision involves the removal of the head of the clitoris, with the body of the clitoris left intact, although this term is often used to cover a range of forms of mutilation. The two most common forms of mutilation are excision and infibulation. Excision involves total or partial removal of the prepuce, clitoris and/or labia minora. Infibulation is the total amputation of all of the external genitalia together with the stitching together of the remainder of the labia majora leaving only a matchstick-sized opening for the passage of urine and of menstrual blood. Other mutilations include pricking, piercing or stretching of the clitoris and/or labia, cauterisation by burning of the clitoris and surrounding tissues, scraping of the vaginal orifice or cutting of the vagina, and introduction of corrosive substances into the vagina to cause bleeding or herbs into the vagina with the aim of tightening or narrowing it. The age at which such procedures are carried out varies from a few days old to just before marriage.    INTERNET LINKS Sources of Practical Advice & Information   Summary of Action in cases of Child Protection   The BBC is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites