Providing health care to 1000s in Bujumbura slum

“I married a man and we were happy with our 2 boys. One day a friend of mine told me that my husband has another wife in the countryside. I was shocked by this bad news. I spent days in my room crying. I made research and I found that it was the reality. My husband whom I loved had another wife. When I asked him why he did that to me, he  became naughty and he traumatized me with these words:  "You were lucky to have me and you ask me that I have another wife; you are stupid like all women". Then he took my children and until now 17 years have passed I am not allowed to see my children.

I have an inexplicable sorrow I feel like I am a bad mother, I feel guilty and I spend sleepless nights thinking about my children. I don't know if they will accept me as their mother one day. I got remarried to another man but I couldn’t have child. I am a woman who does not know what joy is. Thank you for inviting me to this workshop, I feel relieved because of the subject discussed and advice.”

• FWA_MARCH_2022_NARRATIVE_REPORT.doc (DOC)

My name is Anniella. I am 28 years old. I have 3 children. The first is 2 years 6 months old. The second is 1 year 6 months old and the last is 3 months old. My husband abandoned me for no reason after 2 weeks of giving birth to the 2nd child. Because of these close pregnancies, I lost my job in one of the companies in Bujumbura because with prenatal leave and work without a contract, I could not honor my specifications. When I learned that there are Self-Help Groups at Ntaseka clinic, I joined one of them. I participated in a workshop on Family Planning when my second child was 9 months old. I refused to join contraceptive methods because of three reasons: the first was that I was not with my husband. The second was that my religious beliefs did not allow adherence to family planning. The third was the side effects of contraceptives. Suddenly I received a visit from my husband who immediately impregnated me with a third child and continued on his way as usual. My husband is now out of my discussions. I decided not to continue living the ordeal. I am currently on family planning. I preferred the long-acting 5-year method and vow not to have another child if nothing changes.

I was born in a Christian family with a strict education. I grew up ignoring the wickedness of men. I was a church lady. I never knew the man sexually, I even didn’t understand a girl who can have sex before marriage; I did not even believe that it exists.

I married an HIV-positive man without knowing it, but He knew it. I got this bad news when I was pregnant. My heart was shattered into a thousand pieces; I felt the pain I had never felt before. It took me time to accept that my husband who is a practicing Christianity could do such a thing to me. With time, I found who really my husband is; a man who loves many women, who sleeps in hotels with other women, irresponsible man, angry man who beats me, and a man who is different than who I dreamed for. I fell into endless mourning in these 8 years. Sometimes I ask God why I harvested a life like life of a sex worker while I abstained for the glory of God.

I mourn my youth sometimes it's hard to leave the house I stay in my room because I think everyone knows that I’m HIV positive. I cry for my children because I'm going to die soon, who will raise my children? I no longer have strength to live.  I sometimes desire death. This workshop has been meaningful to me. I feel I’m also human. Thanks a lot to the FWA

Links:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIUizsycCtY

• FWA_February_2022_Narrative_Report.doc (DOC)