More than 350 women have received medical attention at the Desert Flower Center initiated by Waris Dirie in 2013 in the Adventist Hospital "Waldfriede" in Berlin-Zehlendorf for the holistic treatment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). On June 21, Waris Dirie spoke at the sixth International Coloproctologist Congress held by the Waldfriede Hospital to an audience of 300 doctors. In her speech, she called for more Desert Flower Centers to be established around the world. According to UN statistics, more than 250 million women worldwide are affected by this cruel procedure.The name "Desert Flower Center" goes back to the work of the former top model and the former UN Special Ambassador Waris Dirie (53), who was widely known by her biography "Desert Flower" and the film by the same name. In it, the native of Somalia, who herself became a victim of FGM at the age of five, describes her path of suffering and life. Waris Dirie opened the center of Berlin on September 11, 2013 and also took over the patronage. Thus "Waldfriede" is a cooperation hospital of the "Desert Flower Foundation", founded by her in 2002 in Vienna, and the first institution in the world to look after the victims of female genital mutilation holistically.
Victims also in Germany and Switzerland
According to the human rights organization TERRE DES FEMMES, based in Berlin, around 180,000 girls and women are affected by female genital mutilation and 500,000 are at risk in the European Union. According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, FGM is practiced primarily in 29 African countries and in a few Arab and Asian states, but also within migrant communities in Europe or North America. Even in Germany there are 50,000 victims with genital mutilation.
The Federal Office of Public Health estimates that in 2013, 15,000 women and girls living in Switzerland are either FGM affected or at risk.
Giving back quality of life
The Desert Flower Center Waldfriede (DFC) is part of the center for intestinal and pelvic floor surgery at the Waldfriede Hospital. It is run by chief physician Dr. Roland Scherer, Professor of Coloproctology. Women with FGM receive medical help and psycho-social care at the DFC. Professor Scherer and his team at DFC Waldfriede deal with the consequences of female genital mutilation such as chronic complaints and pain. These include scarring, vaginal-intestinal fistulas, vaginal-bladder fistulas, sphincter injuries and urinary and fecal incontinence. The Plastic Reconstructive Surgery for the reconstruction of the clitoris and the external genitalia is possible in the Desert Flower Center, as well as a psycho-social care and counselling. However, Scherer pointed out, "We cannot completely reverse the mutilation, but we can restore their quality of life." Also, the surgery counteract dangers that threaten women with pregnancy and childbirth after FGM.
Free treatment
"All surgeries performed by us are medically based surgeries, so they are taken over by the health insurance or, if necessary, by the social welfare office for patients insured in Germany. After all, these are not cosmetic corrections or even cosmetic surgeries", emphasized cooperation partner Dr. Uwe von Fritschen, chief physician of the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery at HELIOS Hospital Emil von Behring, Berlin. For women who come directly from abroad to the DFC in Berlin-Zehlendorf, have no health insurance or whose health insurance for various reasons does not cover the treatment, the Association Waldfriede Hospital takes over the costs.
FGM victims mostly traumatized
Cornelia Strunz, medical coordinator at the Desert Flower Center and senior physician for surgery, reported that most of the women who come to their office are traumatized. Therefore, if desired, women receive psycho-social counselling and assistance before, during or after treatment. Nina Zahn, a teacher in the social service of the Waldfriede Hospital, looks after the social interests of women. Important interlocutors for the women are Evelyn Brenda (Kenya) and Farhia Mohamed (Somalia). Both came from countries where FGM is practiced. They have a lot of experience and because of their roots, understand the women perspective. They also worked as interpreters in the team and are successful communicators. "It is important that we have contact with the women even after they get treatment at the DFC. I want to know how they are doing, even years later," says the senior physician.
“Since January 2015, the Desert Flower Center Waldfriede also has a self-help group, which meets once a month,” reported Cornelia Strunz. In group discussions with translators and therapists, the women exchange experiences and support each other in coping with problems. Under the guidance of the physiotherapist Nicole Dittwald different forms of physiotherapy take place.
Louise Schroeder Medal for Waldfriede Hospital
For the work in the Desert Flower Center, the Waldfriede Hospital received the Louise Schroeder Medal Awarded in 2016. Tthe certificate of honor was above all, highlighted the holistic view of women's health in the DFC Waldfriede, who are living in cities like Berlin - with a high number of migrants – for this Waldfriede deserves great recognition and support. So not only the affected and deeply traumatized women are helped, but they are also educated about the cruel ritual of female genital mutilation. The Louise Schroeder Medal is considered the highest honor from the city of Berlin. Since 1998, every year, the "Louise Schroeder medal" board of trustees and the President of the House of Representatives suggest an outstanding person or institution in Berlin to be awarded in a special way with the political and personal legacy of Louise Schröder (1887 - 1957). She was very involved in social work throughout her whole life and advocated gender equality.
Extensive contribution of “Waldfriede”
Founded in 1920, the 160-bed Waldfriede Hospital in Berlin-Zehlendorf is an institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Annually, the academic teaching Hospital of the Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin welcomes and treats about 13,500 inpatients and 58,000 outpatients. In addition to eleven specialized departments, there is also "Waldfriede" an ambulant home care service (social ward), one short term care, the Academy of Health and Nursing, the project "Baby cradle" for mothers in need as well as a day care center. Already in 1993 the health care center "PrimaVita" with preventive-medicine and a mission for promoting health, was the first hospital facility of its kind in Germany. Since 2008 in addition to the sports rooms, there is a swimming pool at the Teltower dam in Berlin-Zehlendorf. In one year, there would be a total of 5,000 people interested in taking courses and joining permanent groups at "PrimaVita". Since 2010, the center also offers "Medical Check Ups".
In January 2012, the "Private Clinic Nikolassee" in the Von-LuckStrasse was acquired. The villa can accommodate 16 patients with internistic, psychosomatic and mental illness. In May 2017, the health network took over Waldfriede the senior home "Ark" (now "Senior Home Waldfriede") in the Adolfstrasse in Berlin-Zehlendorf. Established in 2007, the facility has a 5,300 square meter plot of land and employs 60 people taking care of 84 residents in 70 single and seven double rooms. In June 2017 the "Tagesklinik Waldfriede" opened at the Botanical Garden. The facility offers part-time patients with psychiatric psychosomatic disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive related disorders. According to Managing Director Bernd Quoss, the network Waldfriede is now the most diverse medical and care provider southwest of Berlin with around 950 employees, and one of the largest employers in the Steglitz-Zehlendorf district.
Waldfriede Hospital is, among other things, a member of the Welfare and Social work Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Oberlausitz and part of the worldwide "Seventh-day Adventist Health System”. Further information at: www.krankenhaus-waldfriede.de
