Story

“Family planning helps me a lot”

A Haitian man and woman sitting side by side, each leaning toward the other and smiling with great affection, openness, and warmth.

Julande, 31 years old, has chosen to receive family planning services at St. Boniface Hospital. This is her story, in her own words.

I have three children. After I gave birth to the third, me and my husband decided to plan our lives and not to have more babies right away. I took Jadelle, which is a five-year contraceptive. After five years had passed, we decided we still weren’t ready to have more children. Life is really difficult for us, especially since me and my husband are living with disabilities. That means there are many kinds of work we can’t do. If we were to have another [child], life would be even more difficult for us. That’s why I made sure to come and replace the contraceptive I had already.

In a consultation room, a man with dreadlocks and a woman in a black head covering and yellow shirt smile as they talk with a woman in light turquoise scrubs.

Julande and her husband consult with Lucienne Hercules at the family planning clinic.

A woman in glasses, light turquoise scrubs, and gloves swabs the left arm of a supine patient in a black head covering and yellow shirt.

Nurse Hercules prepares to remove the contraceptive implant from Julande’s arm and replace it with a fresh implant.

Without family planning, I would already have a lot of children because I could never really monitor my period. Family planning helps me a lot with my family. Because of it, we’re not worried about pregnancy any more and we can take better care of the children we already have.

Three school-age children pose with their parents in a waiting room. The father and oldest child have caught each other's gaze and everyone is smiling happily.

Julande and her family in a candid moment.

I came back to get Jadelle again for another five years. When it’s right, if we decide to have a fourth child, I will come and remove the contraceptive.

Thank you to the nurse who advised me to get family planning services, and thank you to St. Boniface Hospital.

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