Patuma Alick has a positive story to tell from a-not-so-positive experience. MamaYe campaigns to encourage women to attend antenatal clinic on time and regularly. Patuma recalled how she lost her three babies and hence thought this is a very good campaign. She’s now a member of the committee.
Patuma Alick of Magwingwi village, TA Jalasi in Mangochi has a positive story to tell from a-not-so-positive experience.Born in 1983, Patuma is married and has 3 children. She says that in 2012 she was pregnant, but lost the babies at 5 months as they turned out to be twins. In her own words she said she believe this was the case as has been her tendency of never attending any antenatal clinic. This was her third pregnancy. She says for the other two babies it was the same.“ndimapita ku sikero mwina kawiri kapena katatu, ndipo ndimachilira kunyumba mothandizidwa ndi agogo anga” [I would attend antenatal clinic, once or twice and my deliveries were attended by my grandmother]. Patuma narrates.She went further to reveal that, after the death of the twins, nine months later she was also pregnant. As usual, she never went to antenatal clinic. However, at sixth month, she started having strange abdominal pains and swollen legs. She then went to Jalasi Health Centre for medical attention, attending antenatal care for the first time in this pregnancy. She was told by the nurse to come back a week later as her condition needed to be handled by a visiting medical officer from Mangochi District Hospital. Unfortunately this pregnancy was also lost two days into the appointment.Few months went by, and Patuma was pregnant again. During the second month of this pregnancy, she met Gladys of Balakasi village, a member of TA Jalasi’s Mamaye main committee. Out of their numerous discussions, she told Patuma that she is now a member of a new committee which is aimed at saving mothers and babies. “ I was curious to know what they mean by that”, Patuma said with a smile and a beaming face.Gladys told Patuma everything about the MamaYe campaign including the aspect of encouraging women to attend antenatal clinic on time and regularly. Patuma said she later on recalled how she lost her three babies and hence thought this is a very good campaign. She expressed her willingness to be part of the movement and she’s now a member of the committee.Eight months later, Gladys was blessed with a baby boy in November 2014 who was born at Jalasi Health Center and his dad called him Ashraf meaning Most honorable in Arabic.TA Jalasi’s area in Mangochi has eleven school and community based Mamaye clubs. These clubs were initiated and are being coordinated by a Mr Mogoya, a Mamaye activist who is also the current chairperson for Mangochi Blood Committee.