The small insert that changed my life: the empowering reproductive health journey of a young woman in Togo

For Ziarata*, a young single mother in Togo, the contraceptive implant in her arm means more than just preventing an unplanned pregnancy. It means being able to better plan for her future and that of her son. A training she recently received from IPPF’s Member Association in the country, Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF), in collaboration with *Halsa International Togo, helped her make an informed decision about her sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Now rebuilding her life, 22 year-old Ziarata is looking forward to a brighter future.

By Maryanne W. WAWERU

My name is Ziarata. Every time I stretch out my left hand to feel the small insert beneath the skin in my upper arm, I become emotional. As I lightly press on the area, just to confirm that the insert is still there, I feel so relieved, knowing what this means for my son and I.

My son is 14 months old and for several months, I had been agonizing about how to avoid another unplanned pregnancy. As a young single mother who is still trying to find direction in life, I did not want to get pregnant again anytime soon. However, I did not know how to prevent that from happening.

How I got into sex work

I studied up to level three in primary school, after which I dropped out. With nothing to do in the village, I travelled to the capital city of Lome in search of a job. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in securing employment because I was underage and with little formal education. That is how, at a young age, I found myself destitute in the bustling city of Lome. As years went by, desperate and with no prospects of a decent job, I joined other girls who eked a living in Lome’s public beaches through sex work.

While there, I became acquainted with an organization known as Halsa International -Togo, which supports vulnerable children, girls, and young women like me though different programmes. Among other initiatives, Halsa International trains us on economic empowerment, livelihood skills, and healthy living.  

Learning about how to prevent another pregnancy

About seven months ago, Halsa International organized a training for a group of young single mothers on how to run a vegetable garden as a viable economic opportunity that we could pursue. During this training, Halsa also facilitated learning sessions on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which were conducted by ATBEF.

Once a week, we would go to the location of the vegetable garden where we would tend to our vegetables in the early morning hours. Thereafter, the ATBEF team would educate us on different SRH topics, such as how to prevent pregnancy, how to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, how to negotiate for safe sex, safe abortion care, and sexual abuse among other topics.

After ATBEF’s informative training sessions, we would then resume our gardening project in the afternoon. The training lasted one month.

Taking measures to prevent an unplanned pregnancy

It is during ATBEF’s trainings that I learnt about how I could prevent another pregnancy -something that had been worrying me for months. Thankfully, they complemented their teachings with related services and after learning about different contraceptive options, I settled on the five-year implant.

I chose this method because it assured me of a pregnancy-free life for five years. As the nurse inserted the insert beneath the skin of my left upper arm, I felt relieved as I knew that I would now be able to better plan my life and that of my son, devoid of any pregnancy scares.

I was even more excited to learn that I did not have to pay for the training or for the contraceptive implant, services that I would never have afforded. ATBEF catered for all the costs.

Becoming an SRHR ambassador to my peers

The reproductive health training provided by ATBEF in collaboration with Halsa International has been life changing. Today, I feel more empowered to make healthy decisions about my sex life. I now feel confident about negotiating for safe sex because I’m more aware of my rights. I believe I can now better protect myself from STIs and HIV.

I now educate my peers on SRH because I feel knowledgeable about the topic. I have even convinced a few of them to access SRH services such as HIV testing and contraceptives from ATBEF, especially during the mobile clinics the organization conducts regularly around the public beaches where many sex workers can be found.

Saving for a brighter future

The training and the contraceptive I received also ignited a desire in me to change my life. Nowadays, I rise up early in the morning and head to the local market to help women traders sell their fruits and vegetables. From this, I’m able to earn about 1,500 CFA ($2.65) daily, which is about twice more than what I was making from sex work. I have even been able to set aside some savings, something that I was taught to do by Halsa International.

These savings are giving me hope that someday, I will leave the public beaches and rent a small house for my son and I. That is why as I feel the small insert beneath the skin in my upper arm, I do so with relief, knowing that in five years’ time, my son will be in school, which is what I desire most for him.

I intend for my son to pursue the highest level of education. With the contraceptive implant, I will have sufficient time to better plan my life. I believe there is so much I will have accomplished in those five years, thanks to the small insert beneath the skin in my upper arm, and thanks to ATBEF for making it possible.

*Ziariata’s name changed to preserve anonymity

*ATBEF collaborates with several partner organizations to empower young people across Togo. One such partner is Halsa International, which works to improve the lives of vulnerable populations especially children, adolescent girls, and women. Through this partnership, ATBEF provides SRHR information and services to Halsa International’s beneficiaries, such as young women like Ziarata.