Casa de Espera Project
A story to understand life in Massinga
Imagine....
You are 35 weeks pregnant. You live with your husband and family on a farm outside of the city. You are able to provide for you and your family with your small farm but there is little to spare and no extra money for expenditures. The nearest health centre to you is Massinga. There is a small town closer but they have never been able to obtain a health care worker and therefore there is no health centre. You cannot afford transportation so you must walk if you decide to go to Massinga. It’s a long walk and will take you many hours. You are scared. You would like to bring your sister for support but you also need someone at home to help care for your children.
You know you should go to the hospital to deliver your baby as there are so many things that could go wrong, especially at home. You have heard about your neighbour who lost her baby delivering at home and had to go to the hospital anyway to receive medical attention after the birth. You know what the health care workers have said.
You decide to conquer the journey, for a place with a bit more security for you and your baby. You walk for hours and arrive in Massinga not knowing quite what to expect. But you are greatly disappointed when you arrive. You left the comforts of home for this! The walls do not reach the floor, the floor is cracked and uneven and people are cooking in here. It is so smoky you can’t see the other side of the dirty, small building………..
Is this worth it? You left the comforts of home, your family, your supports at home for this. Would you go through this again?
You are 35 weeks pregnant. You live with your husband and family on a farm outside of the city. You are able to provide for you and your family with your small farm but there is little to spare and no extra money for expenditures. The nearest health centre to you is Massinga. There is a small town closer but they have never been able to obtain a health care worker and therefore there is no health centre. You cannot afford transportation so you must walk if you decide to go to Massinga. It’s a long walk and will take you many hours. You are scared. You would like to bring your sister for support but you also need someone at home to help care for your children.
You know you should go to the hospital to deliver your baby as there are so many things that could go wrong, especially at home. You have heard about your neighbour who lost her baby delivering at home and had to go to the hospital anyway to receive medical attention after the birth. You know what the health care workers have said.
You decide to conquer the journey, for a place with a bit more security for you and your baby. You walk for hours and arrive in Massinga not knowing quite what to expect. But you are greatly disappointed when you arrive. You left the comforts of home for this! The walls do not reach the floor, the floor is cracked and uneven and people are cooking in here. It is so smoky you can’t see the other side of the dirty, small building………..
Is this worth it? You left the comforts of home, your family, your supports at home for this. Would you go through this again?
