“Whenever I detect danger signs in a pregnant woman, I urge her to go to the hospital”
A story of community change from Bauchi state
Before CIET came to our community, women would routinely pound up to 6 to 8 measures of grains and thrash it in the household. It did not make any difference whether they were pregnant or not. This was something that was required of all women. At that time we would notice many pregnant women with swollen legs. Many used to complain about chest pains. Some women even lost their babies. Bleeding during pregnancy was a common issue among pregnant women in our community.
After you came to our community, a docudrama was shown to groups of men and women. Women saw what happened to Fatima in the drama. They saw that she was doing heavy work. Soon after, women in the community started talking about Fatima.
Meanwhile when the household visit worker started interacting and discussing about pregnancies and heavy work with women, some of the women said, “we saw Fatima and we know what happened to her.” When the first action-planning group was formed in our community, the village head’s wife’s sister was a member of the community group. She decided to buy a grinding machine for pregnant women in the community so that it will ease their suffering when they pound and thrash grains. It was part of her action plan for her community.
I am a traditional birth attendant. Previously, I did not pay heed to the problems that pregnant women faced. Now, though, whenever I detect danger signs in a pregnant woman, I urge her to go to the hospital. And when I am called upon assist with a delivery at home and I notice the woman cannot give birth by herself, I always advise her to go to the hospital. This is my contribution.
Women in our community have now reduced their heavy work load like pounding and thrashing grains because of the grinding machine the community has.
Return to the voices page or to the most significant change page.