Hospital Case Study
Story of Ms. Safrat Akram
I am Safrat Akram, a 30 year old married woman of Pull Manda, new Abadi, and District Mirpur. My husband, Mr. Muhammad Akram, a police officer wearing three banded stripes, is 35 years old. Ours is a cousin marriage that extends over twelve years until now without children. My husband and my mother in law were sympathetic and supportive. However, my father in law who was also my real uncle, died about one and a half years ago, at times would get upset and tried to convince my husband to remarry. Being depressed, I would start weeping, and then he would hug me and also start weeping on his behaviour. I was fully disappointed and desperate.
Despite knowing, fully well, of the consequences, I had decided to myself arrange the second marriage of my husband. I was willing to pay any price just to fulfil the desire for a child at home. Right from the beginning, I had some gynaecological problems and I was using medicines. After six months of my marriage, I started worrying about my failure to conceive and, started consulting gynaecologists. I tried every good facility but without success. In the meantime, I also got ‘Taawez’ from a ‘Buzurg’ but with no result.
Prolonged use of medicines affected my stomach. Internally, I was feeling lonely and useless. The other women started avoiding me to participate in important ceremonies relating to marriage and childbirth as they considered my presence as a bad omen that was likely to affect the fertility of the newlywed or the health and life of the newly born. I remember that once I wanted to tie ‘Gana’ to a friend of mine but I was restrained through an announcement that it could be done only by a fertile woman. I stepped behind and for hours I kept weeping on my social rejection. My grandmother was advising me to stop the medicines as they had affected my health and I had also decided to do it but rejection syndrome was adding to my desperation to be a mother at any cost.
In the meantime, I heard about the KIRF Community Hospital, through a woman from my village, who worked at the facility as an attendant. I decided to visit the facility as a last hope. When I entered the hospital, I incidentally met the same woman near the reception. She asked me as to what had brought me there and, guided me to the reception counter where I was registered and shown to the Gynaecologist. I found the place a little different from the other facilities that I had been to before. It presented a caring and friendly environment. I was fully heard about my problem and asked about the details of the treatment I had taken. After a few lab tests, I was given detailed counselling by the Gynaecologist. The doctor’s handling was so impressive and confidence building that, I felt myself under a spell. A hope suddenly flashed into my mind. During the treatment, I dreamed that the doctor had solved my problem. But with the history of constant failure, I didn’t take it seriously.
During the period, I and my mother continued reciting the ‘Wazaef’. After a period of two months I got pregnant. I did not realize it. My menses had stopped and I was gaining weight and felt abdominal pain that increased over time. On the insistence of my mother, I accompanied her to the hospital and complained to my doctor about the pain. The doctor checked me and did ultrasonography. She suddenly jumped to her feet and announced I was pregnant. The doctor with tears of happiness on her face said it was five month old pregnancy. I was confused; I could not believe it and I started crying.
My mother who was called into the room hugged the doctor and began crying also. My accompanying brother was no different from others at the scene. My father, who had problems in walking, also reached the hospital in ten minutes. I immediately contacted my husband on the cellular phone to break the news. He wouldn’t believe it. He told me that since I was extremely scared of the thunderstorms of the previous night, I had gone mad. He advised me to compose myself and try to get out of the condition. Then my mother took the telephone and confirmed the news. As I returned home, the entire community stormed my home to congratulate me on the eventful turning in my life. My husband started receiving congratulation messages from his friends from all over the country and abroad. My husband visited the grave of my father in law who could not live to see his wish being fulfilled. My husband announced the news at the grave and kept crying there. The whole world around me seems to have changed now. A new relationship started with those who avoided me in the past; my social rejection had turned into togetherness. I was a reference and beam of hope for all the childless.
I feel as if this KIRF hospital was built to change my destiny. I wish that, God Almighty also bestows similar kindness on all other women with similar problems. Aamin!
I have had the experience of visiting many other hospitals in many parts of the country in connection with my treatment but I found the Community Hospital Jatlan a different place. It differs in terms of staff behaviour, availability of medicines and a clean environment. It is a place of care; the staff are friendly. I highly recommend this facility to the women who want quality treatment. I‘ve already referred many women in my similar situation.
I am through seven months pregnancy and plan to deliver at the same facility. Although the doctor knows the sex of the child ye, she says that they have a policy to keep it confidential. I am very happy as it is going to be my own long cherished child. I am not sex prejudiced; I only wish that the baby is healthy.
On the basis of my experience and the quality of work, the KIRF hospital is doing, I pray for the long life and the welfare of the donors and volunteers with whose efforts, the poor people are able live a painless life. I pray for those who participated in setting up and operation of the facility. KIRF should be proud of its staff and volunteers who are working day and night in making the difference in the lives of many others like me. I wish if similar facilities could be set up in other parts of the country to benefit other women like me.
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