18 Jan Fatima turns her greatest pain into resilience
By Vincent De Paul Ogwang – Communication Officer, Act4Africa
Giving birth to a child with a disability at the age of 18 was Fatima’s greatest pain. Her child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, a condition that required extra medical attention she could not afford. Having been abandoned at her mother-in-law’s place by her spouse, the community advised her to give him poison to end both his suffering and hers. She reached a point of wanting to kill herself to end the misery.
Sharifa (NOT HER REAL NAME) was fortunate enough to have signed up for the health and wellbeing program. Her counsellors repeatedly reassured her that changing her perspective on the problem would improve her life, which gave her comfort. She was able to reduce the tension she had been experiencing for such a long time thanks to the motherhood and stress management class, and she is now a mother who genuinely loves her life and her child.
