Olayinka Koso-Thomas
Olayinka Koso-Thomas (born 1937) is a Nigerian-born physician and public health advocate based in Sierra Leone, internationally recognised for her decades of work to abolish female genital mutilation (FGM) in West Africa.
Early life and education
Koso-Thomas was born in 1937 in Nigeria.[1] She attended Cheadle Hulme School, completing her secondary education in 1954.[2] She subsequently studied medicine at the University of Leeds and the University of California, Berkeley.[3]
Career
Following her medical training, Koso-Thomas relocated to Sierra Leone, where she spent over 40 years working across obstetrics and gynaecology, family planning, general medical practice, birth control, and public health.[3] She is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians.[4]
Her research focused on the health consequences of female genital cutting, particularly its role in the traditional initiation of females in parts of West Africa. She chaired the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the health of women and children.[1] From 1996 to 1998, she served as a consultant to the World Health Organization Africa Regional Office on a project to develop a Plan of Action for the Elimination of FGM in Africa.[4]
Publications
In 1987, Koso-Thomas authored The Circumcision of Women: A Strategy for Eradication, published by Zed Books, UK, and reprinted in 1992.[4] She also published several journal articles on cultural practices affecting the reproductive rights and health of women and adolescents.[1]
Recognition
In 1998, Koso-Thomas was a joint recipient of the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation, shared with Emma Bonino, Graça Machel, Fatiha Boudiaf, Rigoberta Menchú, Fatana Ishaq Gailani and Somaly Mam.[1] She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the National Autonomous University of Mexico.[3] In 2016, she received the Distinguished Old Waconian Award from Cheadle Hulme School.[2]
Medical Career
Dr. Koso-Thomas pursued a career in medicine and became renowned for her work in obstetrics and gynecology. She gained further recognition for her research on female genital mutilation (FGM) and its health impacts, particularly in Sierra Leone.[5]
Advocacy and Research on Female Circumcision
Dr. Koso-Thomas gained international recognition for her work on female circumcision, also referred to as female genital mutilation (FGM). She authored the book Circumcision of Women: A Strategy for Eradication (1987),[6] which analyse both the cultural and health impacts of FGM and strategies for its eradication in countries where the practice is prevalent.
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Emma Bonino Olayinka Koso-Thomas and others 1998 laureates". Princess of Asturias Foundation. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Medical Honour for Dr Olayinka Koso-Thomas Class of 1954". Cheadle Hulme School. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Dr Olayinka Koso-Thomas Class of 1954". oneFifty Stories. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "CV Olayinka Aina Koso-Thomas" (PDF). National Autonomous University of Mexico. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ "Medical Honour for Dr Olayinka Koso-Thomas, Class of 1954". Cheadle Hulme School. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ "Circumcision of women : a strategy for eradication / Olayinka Koso-Thomas - Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 11 March 2025.