Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Too much blessing that has turned in to agony



As you step into her one and only living cum bed room at Ukonga Mombasa in Dar es Salaam, you are welcomed by the cries of the babies.
Sophia Salum, a 28 year old mother of two, who on giving birth to the third child, she delivered triplets at Muhimbili Hospital, taking her number of children to five.
When we paid her a visit with a colleague the two were laying on bed while Sophia was bottle feeding one. They all were in white sweaters and orange slim hem.
Currently they live in a small room where they also shelter their children. And come nights, they have a small bed, which though not big enough, they sleep together, the couple, the triplets and the two other children.
It’s quite unimaginable how things can take a twist, despite our anticipations. That’s exactly how she describes the situation.
Sophia was shocked after getting the news she had delivered three children because no one in their family had ever delivered triplets.

Even though, the mother of five admitted her family has a history of delivering twins.

After delivering three children at ago, Sophia faces challenges in breastfeeding as she says s she doesn’t get enough balanced food diet to help her to produce milk for her babies. But the poverty is haunting them, making it literary impossible Sophia and her husband, Ustaadh Mohammed Wachala.

“Because of that problem we decided to buy them Lactogen in order to make them milk, most of the time her husband earned money through begging, but there is time when we fail even to get a cent to buy them a milk so what we do is prepare for them light porridge” Sophia, whose triplets are now one month and twelve days old, says.

There was a moment, she recalls, when her husband had to sell his mobile phone at a throw away price just to buy lactogen for their children. On average, 2 lactogens last for two days.
“some days she eats only a single meal a day, and that meal turnes out to be Ugali with dagaa or Okra, how do you expect her to be able to produce enough milk to breastfeed the children if she can’t get balanced diet?,” Queries her husband, who is jobless.

While there have been reports that many women with triplets pregnancy often go through difficulties during delivery processes and some of them end up dying or losing their infants, she thanks God that both she and her three babies are surviving.

She remembers they had an appointment with the doctor for Caesarian/operation after being told that her life was in danger.

“Thanks to doctors and nurses at Muhimbili hospital because they operated me safely and I didn’t pay anything”says Sophia
“I didn't believe it at first.” She says because she just couldn't understand how it was possible. She believes her triplet pregnancy is a 'gift from God'.

Ustaadh Mohammed Wachala is Sophia's husband, he looks healthier than her wife despite being jobless Despite the difficulties that came long with having to contend to keep triplets with meager finances they have, it’s a blessing in disguise the husband says.
“Though it is difficult to raise them, I am happy for this is a three ties reward. How many people outside there are crying for not being able to get babies? What I know is that every child comes along with his fair share of blessings from God” the husband says.

Support from family
Emotionally, the new mothers may constantly feel uncertain, anxious, and lack self-confidence in coping with more than one baby. It is during this time that emotional support from her spouse and family members is most important.
“We didn’t want to ask help from the people out there, we had banked our hopes on our families knowing they wouldn’t fail us come what may. But it seems they are not able to do it anymore,” she says
She said that the two families, hers and her husband's helped them however they could ,but she thanks her sister Husna who is there to cook and take care of the whole family.

“My husband is a carpenter by proffessional, and ever since he lost his job, he’s been searching for one unsuccessfully for a very long time in vain,” said the wife, adding that, prior to deliver, she was herself selling roasted cassava in street
“And I think our families have other responsibilities so it is hard to keep on persisting to ask for their support.” However she still thank her younger sister Husna Salum who is there to help her out with taking care of the kids.
Call for help
For Sophia, the future and her children’s life fate is seen in capital. She is calling for well wishers, government and various organizations to help them with capital so that they start a business of their own and stop living on aid from people daily. “That way we’ll be able to generate our own income and raise our five kids happily.” says Sophia whose health looks weaker and her lips look dry too.
Her husband is still search for help to social services though he seems tired of being asked of coming tomorrow. Story by By Elizabeth Tungaraza.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

tuandikieni contact za huyo dada tukibarikiwa na chochote tupeleke.