Nayab Mehreen (19) is a single mother.
Living in the remote district of Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Nayab was married at the age of 15 to her uncle’s son.
“Soon after the birth of my first baby boy, my husband left me at my mother’s home. He promised to come back but later sent a message that he is marrying someone else and cannot keep my son and me anymore. I did not know what to do, but as the time passed, I started making wedding accessories with my sister in law. I also help my family with the household chores.
If I were to demand one thing for quality health care, it would be access to a health facility. The nearest health facility in our area is one hour away, by rickshaw – which is not easily available so we have to walk to the facility. It is the inaccessibility that keeps people from visiting a health facility and therefore unaware of importance of maternal and child health, specially during the pregnancy and post natal period.
To help the women of my community, I have started visiting the households along with a local community mobilizer and take part in community sessions, where I participate in group discussions and we learn from each other.”
- Story ByFatima Shahryar
