The story of Berna‘s suffering due to infertility and her life transformation after meeting “Merck More than a Mother Berna Amullen is a Ugandan woman who became infertile as a result of an untreated sexually transmitted disease (STD). She was diagnosed too late to be given proper treatment and she lost the hope of being a mother and leading a happy life. “Merck More than a Mother” through “Empowering Berna” has provided support for Berna to start her own business and she is now More than a Mother- proud, independent and happier. Below is Berna’s story before and after meeting “Merck More than a Mother.” Berna hails from Otiipe village in Soroti, eastern Uganda. She says she got married at a very young age of 14 years. “I came here before I had even started menstruating, I started after three months but with a lot of difficulty. I also experienced a lot of pain during sex,” she says. According to her that is when and how her condition and story of mistreatment and rejection began. Untreated infection and confirmed unable to conceive She noticed a discharge and informed her husband about it and requested for money to go to hospital. He initially said he had no money but eventually she got some and went to the clinic where the health worker who suspected she had Syphilis sent her for further tests and treatment at Kumi Hospital. However, according to Senior Nurse Hellen Namaganda who saw her at the health centre the disease was treated but Berna continued to complain of severe abdominal pain and pus like discharge. She was referred to another hospital to see a gynaecologist who ordered a scan that revealed that her tubes were blocked. She was introduced to yet another gynaecologist in the hope that she would conceive and get a child. This did not happen Nurse Namaganda says. Instead her symptoms became severe. Even the stronger antibiotics she was given to get rid of the infection did not help as it was too late, her uterus was already damaged. The doctor ordered for another scan that showed that she had fibroids and also confirmed that she could no longer conceive even after unblocking her tubes as they blocked again. “Berna probably grew up with the infection and reported it when it was too late because by the time she came to the health centre she had a discharge and sores on her private parts”, Nurse Namaganda adds. Rejection, mistreatment and attempted suicide This experience left Berna with so much agony she says. “I used to work with my husband, but he sold off all that we had acquired together so that he could marry another wife. He has rejected me and doesn’t even look at me as a human being anymore. He called for a large clan meeting and publicly disowned me. He even took away the farming fields that the elders had apportioned me. I was just left with a hut. He completely rejected me when he got his second wife. He called me that stupid, barren and hopeless woman. “She has no use here” he said. “I was not supposed to say anything about the new wife. I was overworked and it worsened when the new wife conceived. She did not do any work at all, it was all on me,” she adds. Berna attempted to commit suicide but her neighbours rescued her at the last moment. “I remember the day he told me it’s over. I felt so much pain and got a pesticide to take so that I could kill myself but people broke down my door, I would be dead now,” she narrates. The children of the fellow women who got married around the same time with Berna have all grown up. “When I look at someone else’s child my heart aches,” Berna says. “If I had also given birth, I would also be well-off and my children would be helping me and they would be in school also. I am very sad but there is nothing I can do,” Berna said in agony. Berna empowered: independent and happier With the help of “Merck More than a Mother” through the “Empowering Berna” project Berna has been able to establish a chicken farm that has helped bring back her confidence and dignity. The society now looks at her as a woman of substance. “I used to live under tough conditions before this project up-lifted me as a woman, I am now happy and my business is progressing well. I am lucky to have been able to begin a chicken project. I own a poultry house and chicken that I feed every day. I am very happy that this project has changed my life,” Berna proudly said. According to Berna’s niece, Amodan Scholar, Berna is childless and was abandoned by her husband. Her work has been to take care of her co-wives children with nowhere to farm, eat or decent shelter to live in. “Her living conditions were really bad, nobody wanted to associate with her,” Amodan adds. “Berna had given up on life before this project. She could not even afford to buy herself clothes,” says her friend Atai Joyce. “The worst is when she was sick and underwent an operation. She was helpless. Berna’s life has changed ever since this project started,” Atai attests. Being a rejected and hopeless woman, Berna sought refuge in church where she would constantly go to pray about her situation, says Reverend Otema Patrick her pastor. “We believe this project will help not only her but other people as well,” he adds. “When I got the support from Merck I decided to start a poultry project. I also received training on the basics of poultry farming, how to manage it and even how the chicken house should be constructed. I was also advised on the type of chicken and sizes I should keep for purposes of multiplication and for laying eggs,” Berna explains. “I am so delighted, I used to be useless and laughed at in this community. Nobody cared about me when I was sick. I am now happy, I am strong. I have strength all over my body,” Berna says while dancing with her neighbors. “Berna now owns a permanent house, she eats well and is better positioned as a woman of this society,” says Amodan. “People have now started associating with Berna,” adds Atai. People are asking what she is doing with her life and how it has changed all over sudden and what benefits she will get out of this project. “I believe her life will be much brighter in two-three years to come. She will have forgotten she is childless. Merck will have made her look like someone who has given birth to many children,” says Reverend Otema. “I keep praying for each and every one who is part of Merck for their good work. May they continue supporting women like me. I am now in a better position in this village,” Berna concludes with a big smile. |