“Family Planning Changed My Life”: Akimaana Nadine’s Journey with Shared Action Africa.
Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda — Akimaana Nadine, a 23-year-old refugee residing in Nyarugugu zone of Nakivale Refugee Settlement, is a mother of two. Her firstborn is five years old, and her youngest is just three months. Nadine shares her heartfelt appreciation for Shared Action Africa, whose intervention has positively transformed her experience with childbirth and family planning.
Nadine recalls visiting Nakivale Health Centre III, where she encountered a health worker from Shared Action Africa. During that visit, women were being sensitized and trained on family planning methods, including the importance of child spacing.
“I became interested in using family planning because I live with my partner, and we were sexually active almost every day,” Nadine explains. “I was afraid of having children one after another because we did not have enough money to take care of them.”
Inspired by the training, Nadine decided to adopt family planning and opted for Sayana Press, an injectable contraceptive. She has used it successfully for five years, allowing her to space her children in a way that fits her life and resources.
“I’ve never experienced any problems using it,” she says. “I gave birth to my first child when I was ready, and after delivery, I continued using the method because it was working well for me. When I wanted another child, I paused it and conceived again.”
Nadine recently welcomed her second child and has already resumed her Sayana injections, confident in her ability to prevent unintended pregnancies.
“It’s been good for my body, my life, and my relationship. I have the energy for both food and for my man,” she smiles. “Now I can care for my children properly because I’ve given birth to a number I can manage. We feed them well, they are healthy, and we are happy as a family.”
She adds that her husband, the father of her children, is also content because he can provide for a manageable family size.
Nadine expresses her gratitude to Shared Action Africa for the vital knowledge and access to services that have allowed her to take control of her reproductive health.
“I thank Shared Action Africa for making my life better through family planning.”