I am overjoyed and so thankful for the excellent healthcare services I am receiving at VPT Clinic, as this is my fifth pregnancy but my first experience as a registered obstetric patient. I have finally found a secure haven, as my first three children were born at home and delivered by my mother-in-law. However, my fourth child was born during the peak of the Covid pandemic, and I had contracted the virus ten days prior to the delivery. Due to the fear and trepidation of the situation, I was unable to receive treatment for the infection, and my daughter was born with a high fever and signs of chest infection. This traumatic experience led me to choose a clinic for my current pregnancy, instead of opting for a home delivery, as my in-laws now understand that health and safety must always come first for me and my child.

It is often difficult for me in my role as a Family Planning (FP) Consultant to introduce the concept of FP to newly married couples due to a lack of understanding of what it is, fear of contraceptive methods, and reluctance to consider FP due to religious or family/societal pressures. It takes many counseling sessions and determination to explain the importance of having a three-year gap between pregnancies, both for a woman’s reproductive health and for the economic benefit of the entire family. I have seen a positive shift in attitude, with women now asking for more information on intra-uterine devices and progestin injections to delay pregnancy, where before they were unfamiliar with even basic condoms.