Monrovia – Princess Millimouno was just a high school graduate when she got pregnant with her first child.
Report by Tecee Boley
Then a teenager, she was chastised by her father and the well-meaning community members. For young Princess everything seemed lost.
She dropped out of school. Her dream of going to the university became a faint hallucination.
Her wonderful ambition of becoming a medical practitioner in Liberia, where professionals are much needed, was blurred.
“When I got pregnant I was unhappy about my pregnancy. Because of this, I use to be so sad and so confused.
I even lost hope. I felt very, very disappointed in myself. I had planned that after high school I would further my education at the university level. I was so unhappy that I stopped walking around the community.”
Princess is just one of thousands of young girls in Liberia who have to feel the pinch of an unwanted pregnancy.
Most young girls never go back to school or have the opportunity to hold a book least to say read or write.
As unfortunate as the situation seems Princess is lucky, she came in contact with the Big Belly Business Book- the first pregnancy guide written in simple Liberian English.
“One evening I was sitting on my porch with my head bent down. As soon as I lifted my head I saw two people walking towards me- a man and a woman.
They talked to me about the Big Belly Business program.
I turn my head on the other side and asked how they knew I was pregnant because I was doing my best to hide it.
Later I followed them to the town hall meeting. They introduced the book to us.”
The book soon became a source of strength and hope for Princess. She had something to read other than her notes from school.
Gradually, she was learning new things. Some of those things shocked her while some of them were entertaining, taking her mind off her worries.
Princess could no longer keep all the insightful and powerful information to herself.
She volunteered to work with the Traditional Women United for Peace in her community as a trained Big Belly Sister.
As a Big Belly Sister she uses the beautiful illustrations in the book to teach women who are uneducated how to use the pregnancy guide.
“I go about talking to pregnant women, teaching them to know about themselves. Telling them about things they are propose to do and what they are not to do. I also strive to change people’s minds about pregnancy myths.
Some people still believe that a pregnant woman should not eat pineapple because it will put sores on the baby’s body. I have been able to convince some people that this is not true.”
This may be a small step but it is a live saving knowledge in a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.
The country’s entire health system collapsed during one of the world’s most deadly outbreaks of the Ebola virus.
Causing the maternal mortality rate to climb up to 994 deaths per 100 000 live births. Part of the reason is lack of the right information.
That is why the information sharing section is the key segment of every club meeting that Princess facilitates.
Today she facilitates one of the biggest clubs run by her organization.
The white sand in the yard of the Town Hall glitters from reflection of the bright sunlight of the afternoon.
The Town Hall- an unpainted big block building stands tall amongst new zinc shakes in New West Point Community.
But it is not the glittering sand or dissimilar look of this building that sets it apart from others in this shanty town.
The sound of a group of women reading together and discussing a book is strange. Most women in communities like these do not read. The statistics is staggering.
Women represent less than 40 percent of educated people in Liberia, according to last Liberia Demographic and Health Survey. This is why any book that makes a woman interested is so important to all of Liberia.
The Big Belly Business book is motivating women in this community to read, discuss and share their experiences with one another. “Is….Something …
Smelling….. ?” They read aloud page 64 of the book. About 35 of them are seated here. A woman lifts her hand. Yes says Princess at the same time pointing at a young woman.
Amie Kallon is a new mother. She tells the group how she hated the smell of a certain food during her pregnancy.
She also has been doing more to assist Princess. She carries the books and help to distribute them.
“I have learnt a whole lot from these meetings. I feel that Princess is doing well. I admire the way she talks to us.
I forgot about some words because it has been long since I went to school. Now I am able to spell them.
Princess did not go back to get pregnant she is taking family planning. She is even going to school to be a nurse. I want to be like her someday. Now I am in training to be a Big Belly Sister just like her,” says Kallon.
Kallon did not take birth control after her other two children. However she is not the only person who has decided to change her way of life.
The entire community of Kpalla, concluding their chair person, Augustine K. Denuwollie has decided to encourage every pregnant woman to attend clinic.
“Since we started the Big Belly Club meetings at the clinic, they told us that nobody should treat pregnant women at home.
All tablets, all checking and all treatment should be done at the clinic here. And that is what happening now. I thank God the community is safe.
If a person refuses to come to the clinic when I catch that person I will fine that person along with anyone who administers the treatment at home.
First offense is LD$750.00 (about US$8.00). Second offense is LD$1500.00 (US$15.00). The person will be expelled from the community on the third offense.”
While Denuwolllie is taking serious measures to ensure women’s health in his community, the Afro-Medical Health and Welfare Services in 72nd Community is putting up a good fight against teenage pregnancy.
“Teenage pregnancy has been a national problem for a long time now in Liberia.
Most of the girls who get pregnant, when they learn from the groups that family planning will help them to do spacing, will help them to achieve some of their educational and professional goals, they take that seriously.
Girls who come to our meetings are often different from those who do not come.
Those who do not get in contact with the program will have two or three children in no time,” says Executive Director Patience B. Flomo.
The change is not only for young girls. Dr. Joseph L. Kerkula, Director of the Family Health Division says even in the delivery room changes are occurring. Some men in Liberia are now present at the delivery of their babies.
“It depends; I am saying this to say normally we say that the man and the lady decide that the lady gets sick for nine months.
Since the man identifies himself with the woman and will want to share in that responsibility in giving her all of the psychological support in having a smooth delivery. In some instances-Yes, Permission is granted.”
Back to New West Point, Princess’ experience of the delivery room is completely different.
The father of her child was not present neither was any other family member allowed in the delivery room.
However she vows that her next baby will only come when she is fully capable of caring for it. Princess says page 219 of the Big Belly Business Book should be the business of every young girl as it helps to secure a better future.