A vision influenced by my community



I believe there is never a perfect picture as human beings are not perfect but one can have a pretty good picture. I also believe that life is no bed of roses, doesn’t imply that it is only filled with thorns. Growing up in this part of the world where thousands of people do not have what to eat; a place where larger percentage of the population do not quality healthcare; a place where access to education is limited; a place where wealth is unevenly distributed and poverty is the watchword, has informed my sense of aspirations. Motivated by situation in my community, I have come to understand that personal success cannot be fully savored in the midst of crisis and insecurity. And so my personal vision has been influenced largely by experiences in my world, creating a better place in my community, synonymous to having a good picture despite the imperfections around. Having an organization to cater for pregnant adolescents is a vision I see that will create a better community and a better world. I want to say adolescent pregnancy here is different from organized society and that it is subject in most cases to poverty, ignorance, lack of sex education, crave for money and materialism in the country. Also, structures and program accessible in most organized society are unavailable here. Adolescent pregnancies usually lead to unsafe measures such as unsafe abortion, delivery by unskilled caregivers, deadly disposal of their newborn babies emphasizing the importance of giving them care. Adolescent pregnancy has increased maternal mortality rate in Nigeria as many adolescents and even unprepared young ladies take decision that poses health risks either short and long term complications, to them or their children. Consequences are usually disastrous as many unwanted pregnancies have led to shame and withdrawal from the society or even suicidal attempt; it leads to low economic status of its victims, termination of educational career and even early marriages. Working with experts, the organization will provide pregnant adolescents with counsel that will help foster responsible decision taking and resiliency, support to participate in quality prenatal care in preparation for their coming baby. It is important to equip them with practical life skills and training, equip them with the ability to build self-esteem that is developmental for their future. Empowering them to make healthy decisions that will positively impact their future is also part of my vision; providing adolescent generally with education is important. I believe tackling the case of pregnant adolescents is important as it eventually leads to a vicious cycle of ill health and poverty. The increase in unwanted pregnancies and its consequential outcome is worrisome and efforts of all partners, government and private should be intensified. It is important that government provide funds and policies that will improve the health sector especially maternal and child health. Due to some religious beliefs, sex education and the use of contraceptives by adolescents are restricted in most schools; I believe Worldpulse, as a community of women for change, will help advocate the need for this change. Being a worldpulse correspondent makes me an instrument of advocating changes that are very important in my community while learning at the feet of experts; I believe this opportunity will avail me with skills, resources and information/advice that will help bring this vision alive in my community and the world at large. The opportunity to learn from others experience and their solutions to troubling matters that require change. The sky is just the beginning, women for change.

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