How Family Planning Gives Access for Families to plan their Future
Jeanine and her husband laughting |
Jeanine lives with her husband and children in Buhombo, North Kivu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She is a mother of 12 children, the oldest being 22 years of age and the youngest 1-year-old. Jeanine farms and sells Irish Potatoes & beans in her neighborhood and Goma city.
BEFORE MAWE TATU
“To have 12 children wasn’t neither a plan nor a business. It was simply an accident because we didn’t have contraceptives for family planning... We did not know where to find contraceptives and if we knew where [they were], we could have planned.”
Jeanine and her husband did not plan to have 12 children. They grew increasingly tired of expanding their family as poverty began to take a toll on their family. “My husband and I gave birth without no break in-between. We were asking ourselves where to find help because the situation has brought us poverty,” said Jeanie. Being pregnant severally placed a huge burden on Jeanine and her husband, both physically and economically. “When I was pregnant, I could not farm; I could not pick up a basin and walk into Goma to sell.” The lack of financial means meant her children could not study at school and were often hungry. Jeanine struggled with hypertension and hypotension during pregnancy due to the thought of her children's future. This left her feeling mentally and physically exhausted. “Giving birth with no break in-between makes your body weak and weakens your uterus. This means that sometimes you do not deliver normally,” Jeanine shared. The fear of complicated births stressed Jeanine and her husband because more complications meant more money spent at the hospital.
AFTER MAWE TATU
Jeanine being counselled before receiving Depo jab. |
Jeanine now supports her family through farming and feels much stronger these days, thanks to the support. She even feels her body is glowing again and sees that her husband is also more at ease now. She hopes that consistent women living in her area.
Comments
Post a Comment