I SURRENDER FOR CHANGE

Literally, my vision is to see women smile after a tough time. When I lost my baby after birth, I was so bitter. I was going down every day, I refused to eat and take care of myself. Usually prefer to be alone, my only companion was my bible but yet I remained in my closet. My family was supportive yet.......... One day, a family friend visited, I was alone. After asking of everyone he said "is it because of what happened to you that you refused to make you hair and look good, you do not need to be hard on yourself after all you are not the first person to lose a baby". Those words turned me around. First I was not expecting such from an elderly man. Second, it was my hair he noted, it was scattered. When he left, I picked up a mirror to look at my face which I have not done for almost a month. I took a comb, combed my hair and bond it; a gentle smile came out of me. I gained my strength back with the power of those words.

Practically, my community vision is to develop a community magazine (ABOUT HER) which will focus on women’s health awareness and education and girl’s empowerment. I truly want to address women's health because of my health experience. I learnt that not all with protruded tummy are pregnant. A lady sat beside me in church and she whispered into my ear "am praying to have this gift of yours". I laughed and replied "God will give you what you desire. She did not know it was fibroid. I was like a 7months pregnant woman. A lot of Nigerian women and young girls are carrying it. My brother's friend and the wife attended our family party. I was happy when I saw her, I said to my mama; thank God this lady is now pregnant. She said it's fibroid. Another, is single and in her late 30s. She always covers herself with wrapper because people think she is pregnant. The major treatment option is traditional medicine. They promise their drugs will shrink it and massage the stomach so hard. When I noticed the growth, my mama’s friend took us to a man whom she said treat all women problem. It was a riverine area; you have to walk on constructed wood bridge to get to the building. I met alot of beautiful women there. There was a rubber mat on the floor which acts as the bed for massaging. The environment was messy; the saliva in mouth kept increasing. Women were being massaged one after the other. Mama and friend did. It was my turn; he asked me the problem, I narrated, asked if I wanted the routine. I refused and he left me. He said it will cost me $400 to receive treatment and $200 for mama. He said mama has liver problem that was what he noticed. She should bring along a piece of old wrapper of hers for treatment. Mama wanted to negotiate the price, I cut in and said, do not worry sir, we will come when we are ready, and we left. Mama known that I wanted to leave that environment immediately and that I would never return there again. I took other types of traditional medicine for 5years but get no result. Some say it works but my sister’s friend died after massaging. Surgery is too expensive in Nigeria. I envision organising a pool of volunteer medical team to attend to women health problem or find a remedy. Awareness on this is shallow. I truly want to start from here.

It’s one thing to run, it another to be a runner. I want to be a runner of Voice of the Future to establish a platform for women and girls to learn, be empowered, educated, connected and happy. Pulse Wire, ICT can be a new idea.......

I want to be guided to make my voice harder and be heard. To be well informed globally, to learn new ideas and meet friends. This collaboration will help me achieve my vision. World pulse has taking a part of me...............