Healthy Families, Brighter Futures Family Planning

My name is Aceng Harriet, a wife and a mother of 5, I live in Cet Kana village. I used to give birth every year and this caused me to have misunderstandings with my husband because I had to give attention to the children, it was very stressful for me. I even lost weight and was always ill and looked very bad, I was tired all the time because of the household chores and taking care of children who are slightly the same age. However this all changed after the information I received on family planning, this was all because our village health team member and Karin Medical Centre initiatives in our village.

I came to learn about family planning through a VHT called Ogwang Robert who enrolled me under the Karin Medical Centre mother’s cohort, by then I was pregnant with my baby who is now 2 years. I received information during the sensitization sessions at the health centre where we were they educated us on on family planning ranging from methods to advantages of family planning.

When the VHT visited my village he encourgaed us to visit the health centre, they also educated us and gave us information on antenatal care, care of a new born baby and after birth I started receiving messages on family planning. This motivated me to attend the sessions on family planning at the Health centre because I wanted to learn more from the health worker. The most important topic that has been part of my life since then is family planning; I remember this topic was introduced when I was 7 months pregnant. At this particular time I was having problems with my husband and therefore it came timely. I was excited to learn more about family planning because of so many myths that I heard from my friends, this was my time to know the truth.

When the day for the session came that day I kept time and was one of the first 5, the health worker took us through the different family planning methods and important through the side effects of each. Till today I am glad I attended this session because I was able to learn all I wanted too and this was the day I took my decision of using a family planning method. After I had my baby I told the nurse that after 6 weeks I will be receiving my family planning method, she asked me which and then I told her I wanted a long term method. To date my husband came back home and we are living happily and taking care of our children, I have actually noticed that my last child is much healthier than others were at that age I think it’s because am not pregnant and therefore giving her attention and more care. I thank Karin Medical Centre for sensitizing us and all its initiatives because it’s through them that my family has reunited and am happy.