Changing The Narrative

Writing A New Story for Teen Moms in Angola

GHSC-PSM staff supporting the Central Procurement Agency for Medicines and Medical Supplies Central Medical Store (CECOMA) team at the warehouse: Photo Credit: GHSC-PSM, Angola.

Date

October 9, 2023

“At the age of 18, I was still nursing my 9-month-old baby when I found out I was pregnant for the second time. My world came crashing down.” - Secia Sanunda, Family Planning Client, Kuito Mother and Child Centre

Life and Learning Disrupted

During the COVID-19 health crisis, with her school shut down and her education interrupted, 17-year-old Secia Sanuda from the province of Bié found herself pregnant with her first child, Joana. Unfortunately, with the lack of information about family planning and contraceptive use in her community, Secia was devastated to find herself pregnant again when little Joana was only nine months old.

Early pregnancies can impact a girl’s life in many life-altering ways — socially, economically and physically. She may even be forced to let go of her lifelong dreams of education and future opportunities. In addition to the challenge of dropping out of school, girls who experience early pregnancies may face lasting health effects on a body — and brain — not yet fully developed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) found approximately 21 million girls aged 15–19 in - developing countries become pregnant each year, and about 12 million give birth. The adolescent fertility rate in Angola is 163 births per 1,000 girls between 15 and 19 years — the third-highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the world, after Niger and Mali, according to the World Atlas.

A contributing factor is the lack of awareness about family planning and limited access to quality healthcare, education, and family planning commodities.

Secia with healthcare workers

Secia with a healthcare worker

Changing The Narrative

Secia was overwhelmed with despair, convinced her future was lost for good. With two kids to care for and facing the real prospect of dropping out of school, she saw no hope for a better life.

However, that all changed when she and her partner were advised by her prenatal nurse to seek counsel at the Kuito Mother and Child Health Centre in Bié province. The Centre is supported through the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project. In partnership with the Angolan Ministry of Health, the project procures contraceptives and provides technical assistance to the country’s Reproductive Health and Family Planning program.

The GHSC-PSM project ensures that provincial warehouses across Angola have an uninterrupted supply of contraceptives, and technicians are trained to serve patients in order to strengthen the Angolan government's strategy of creating a healthy spacing of pregnancies to reduce maternal and infant mortality through voluntary family planning. These efforts are fundamental to realizing better health outcomes and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to reproductive, maternal, and newborn health.

Following their checkup, Secia and her partner were ushered into the family planning room, where they learned about different contraception methods they could consider after their second daughter's birth. The counselor emphasized the importance of focusing on their studies while ensuring the growth and well-being of their daughters. She also highlighted that, by following the recommended guidelines, they could approach parenthood with a sense of security and confidence.

According to the WHO antenatal care guidelines, providing counseling like this on postnatal family planning options is considered an integral part of antenatal care.

“I felt relieved when I realized that not all was lost. I would now have the possibility to change my life, rather than conform to it.” - Secia Sanunda

Dr. Marinela Gomes, who leads the family planning section of the Centre, reports contraceptive use increased from 6,382 clients in 2020 to 9,860 in 2021 and 13,065 in 2022. This surge is attributed to the now-uninterrupted availability of quality contraceptives once pandemic-related disruptions were resolved.
At the Kuito Mother and Child Health Centre, Secia received all her prenatal care, delivered her second child and received information on various contraception methods to determine the most suitable choice.

People in a warehouse in Angola

Secia with healthcare worker both giving a thumbs up

Thumbs up from Secia and the medical team!

A Blank Canvas

Determined to overcome the many challenges of teenage motherhood, she was able to restart her education in 2021 when schools reopened. Secia made heroic efforts to compensate for the time she had lost in learning and to achieve her dreams of self-reliance and a brighter future for her daughters. Juggling her responsibilities as a mother and student, she managed to balance both roles effectively.

Secia is the face of thousands of Angolan women whose lives have changed through the support of USAID through GHSC-PSM. With the Government of Angola and other in-country stakeholders, USAID has supported the procurement and distribution of over 5.8 million family planning and reproductive health products to USAID-supported facilities and organizations in the country since 2017.

Collaborative efforts like these ensure teenage mothers remain in the school system and on a path to success. GHSC-PSM continuously provides quality contraceptives, enabling girls to make safe choices and pursue their futures. This ensures all young women have the freedom to create a brighter future for themselves and their children.

When Secia came to the Kuito Mother and Child Centre, her perspective changed. On that first day, she was handed an art canvas, completely blank, to decorate however she wished. It was a symbol of starting a fresh chapter in her life, and an opportunity to create her own future.

“I thank the donors who make it possible for this and other health centers to never run out of contraceptive methods. Thanks to this, girls like me can continue studying and follow their children's growth without concerns.’’- Secia Sanunda

Today, at age 21, Secia is pursuing her education and working toward a successful adult life, all while ensuring her young family thrives in good health and happiness.

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