Fathers.

The thing about programs targeting women and children is that they do just that – work with women and children. Often times, that can be a barrier to achieving the goals in development and health that NGOs and ministries of health so desire. Birth spacing, family planning, effective breastfeeding even (yes! breastfeeding. There is a taboo here that breast milk becomes dirty and unfit for feeding to the baby after the mother engages in sexual intercourse so the mother will stop breastfeeding prematurely) cannot be done with the will and choice of women alone. For a lot of these initiatives you need to try to involve the men, the husbands, the fathers.

If you call a bunch of women and tell them that they should have only the number of children they can financially support, and that there are family planning options for them – you are putting the burden upon the women to go back to their households to explain, convince, and get the permission of their husbands to do what health administrators advise. This is easier said than done – its not hard to see why women practice birth control without their husbands knowing. Husbands often reject birth control methods because they worry about the infidelity of their wives. Islam allows men to take up to 4 wives, but of course, the women must accept that and live faithfully. Ho-hum.

Before the rant, I wanted to say: That’s why its so encouraging to see fathers at the clinic. I love it when I see fathers at the clinic because it tells me that they care, that they support the treatment of their child, and because it shows me that they don’t delegate childcare as a woman-only duty. I saw three fathers this week: one who brought his child in alone, and two who came with their wives and child.

One couple came in with twins. With these outpatient programs giving supplements, its protocol to enroll both twins, even if one is not necessarily malnourished because you assume the sharing of food (more so than with other siblings), especially because they are twins. The mother and father each carried a twin while waiting for registration, during registration, and throughout the taste test. Observing them left me with that warm, fuzzy feeling. :)


June 21 was fathers day.
Unfortunately for my dad, neither of his two daughters was home to give him the hugs and kisses, the thanks and appreciation he so deserves.
My younger sister, Joanna is off all the way across the country at hardcore music camp and I’m halfway across the globe. But he was okay with it. “I’m happy if my daughters are happy,” he said – like always.
Thanks Daddy. ^^

My Dad, making sure, as always, that I'm well fed! heehee
Love you!~