VOWW - YEAR 2011
The scar on my belly
Each time I stand in front of the mirror to look at myself. I imagine how transformed I look after God's creation. The beautiful belly I had has gone and left me with a scar with divided my lower region to looks like two lobes because of the surgical needle and thread that has pass through there twice within six months interval. Only one man still see it beauty-my husband. He says, you stomach is taking shape everyday. Look more beautiful. It maybe true but I see it as a tease.
Many women have scar as a result of surgery which commonly comes from Cesarean section. I have already counted about five people who were carried out of the theater room before I slept off that night in the hospital. By morning, every bed in the maternity ward of the hospital was occupied with 70% of women who delivered through CS. I imagined how many CS would have be carried out in various hospitals nationally and globally.
Child bearing is sweet but I know that today women do not find joy again when they are pregnancy becos of fear of complication which CS could be the only way out. But it is "safety first" and an option to save women at birth. 'Women die while giving life'. So bad, so unfair. Something has to be done and all hands must be on deck to save a woman's life. "She is too important and beautiful to die ".
For some, it does not matter how the baby comes as far as mother and child live (me inclusive) but for so many in Nigeria it is a taboo to give birth through cs, you are weak and cannot push, is the most common say. When a woman is told she will give birth through cs the next word that comes from her is "God forbid". The next place you find her is in the church or traditional birth attendance home. Yes, some have been successful. Others have not; they are no more to tell their story. Someone have to take time to explain complication like hypertension in pregnancy, placenta previa or rupture, abnormal position of the baby and other conditions to pregnant women as as to save their life
Our medical personal are sometime not patient to explain this conditions to them. Women need counselling when they find themselves in a mixed condition. Then the next problem is the huge medical bill for cs. It fears a lot. Who pays the bill? Where is the government, what are they saying or doing about this. Where are the friends of the needy, you can help. The medical personals, what are their next plans about this. Can the bill be cut down, thus you are there to save life. Please do what you are called to do. Some say it is becos of the money that doctor always prefers the option of cs. I don't know, that is what people say....
One woman who was given the option of cs if her baby did not come after some hours but finally came without cs said “if I have gone through that operation and my husband pays the bill. I would have stayed hungry all my life because I know the type of husband I have". The torture she was going to face after cs was her problem. Could there be another option to safe delivery without cs. Then let hear it. Some people fear that they will die in the course of the operation. They say “I may not wake up again after the anesthesia. Someone have to assure them that there is much improvement in medical practice now and the options of anesthesia are different.
Nigeria has a 40 percent rate of illiteracy among women, one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world, and the third largest number of HIV infections. Our women needs grass root education to be empowered.
Comment by Velma A. Sampson on June 30, 2011
Vivian, yes, I have no doubt there are worse things unheard by these ears or seen by these eyes; and it saddens me for we are all the same, no matter who or where we may be living or have been born. We all come from the same source, are all created equal and of the same substance, all have the same spiritual essence...the only variation is the beautiful variety...like a wonderful garden in its shapes, sizes, colours, fragrances. We celebrate nature and we destroy our kin.
Comment by Vivian Ifeoma Emesowum on June 30, 2011
Dear Velma, my sorry may sound incredible to you cos you have not heard or seen such because i tell you, there are so many Nigerian women who have worst experience than mine. That is the country we live in. You are fortunate to have free information, support and help. How many of our Nigerian women have such help, such information they need to support themselves.
I am certain that your Nigeria friend will give you more information when you bring up the issue. Thank you
Comment by Velma A. Sampson on June 23, 2011
I am sorry; sorry when I read this to see how blind I can be to the struggles of women especially in the beautiful and natural and God given state of child bearing and child birth. Living in Canada these are not stories I would ever hear; we are educated and made aware of each new development and challenge we may face and we are freely provided with information, support and the help that is needed, when it is needed. To read of illiteracy and the lack of knowledge about basic and natural life giving processes is a shock to anyone such as myself, living in a country where everything has always been made available and if not known is researched, understood and then shared with the populace at large.
I have an acquaintance here in Toronto, who is from Nigeria; have known him for a dozen years or so. He returns to Nigeria and lives there six months every year. He is a man, he has family and sisters and the like, and yet, never once has this type of information been shared, these types of topics discussed. It makes me wonder why? Why isn't this person sharing, especially with the influence he has here in Canada; he is involved and connected with our politicians and from what I know comes from a very influential family in Lagos area. Surely the next time we speak, this and other such matters will be raised, at least by me.
My dear sister, I thank you for sharing your heart, your pain, your hope. Namaste.
Comment by Vinanti Sarkar Castellarin on June 23, 2011
Thanks Vivian ... this is an incredible story of opening our eyes to what is happening in Nigeria where 40% of women face illiteracy with one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates and the third largest number of HIV infections where your women need grass root education to be empowered ...
THERE WAS MUCH TO LEARN FROM
AUGUST 2013
Nigerian's Youth Celebrates the Int'l Day With 3 months Strike of the ASUU
Posted on August 14, 2013 at 3:11am Feature1 Comment 3 Likes
