“Thanks to MPA piglet project, I’m so happy that I have a second chance of living a normal life”. Says Nassimbwa.
Specioza Nassimbwa is a 54-year-old woman living in Lwagulwe / Lwankoni village and has no biological children.
For nine years Nassimbwa suffered from the fistula condition and as with most women, Nassimbwa got the injury during child labor and delivery.
Unfortunately, she lost her baby during birth and now attributes it to the reality that from the time she got pregnant, she never visited a health center and even when labor started, she did not bother going to the hospital, but instead she went to an old traditional birth attendant whom she trusted would help her deliver.
After the birth, when her husband heard that the baby had died and how Nassimbwa had suffered an injury, he decided to abandon her and told her not to return to his home since he believed that Nassimbwa was cursed. She was left all alone wondering what the future would hold.
Specioza Nasimbwa first heard over the radio about the camp at Kitovu hospital repairing women with fistula injuries. Hesitantly, she decided to attend the camp in 2012. The operation was successful and she was healed.
To Nassimbwa this was a very big miracle since she had suffered for nine years living in terrible and unbearable conditions. She was segregated and she says her husband neglecting her was most painful experience especially during the time she needed him to stand by her! To thank God for the miracle of getting back her life, she decided to adopt two orphaned girls following her surgical repair.
Nassimbwa joined the piglet project and after receiving a piglet from MPA, she is so happy and thankful for how it has changed her life.
The team that works on The Piglet Project gave Nassimbwa more hope and comfort because she was counseled, trained, and encouraged for how to be successful. She was taught how to care for the pig and explained how the project would work.
Nassimbwa’s pig had its first litter and produced seven (7) piglets. She passed on two to her group members, kept one, gave one (1) to the owner of the boar that fathered the piglets and sold the remaining 3 each at 30,000 (thirty thousand shillings).
Nasimbwa used the proceeds from piglets’ sales to buy construction materials for a permanent pig pen. She also bought a blanket and a mattress for herself and bedding material for her adopted daughters.
With the second litter Nassimbwa plans to sell some piglets and use the income as capital to start a retail shop as her house is located along a main road, her business will be able to get customers. She plans to sell off the mother pig after its third litter and the proceeds will be used to either start a poultry project or add more stock in her retail (grocery) business.