A mother who now loves and cares for her children

Thirty-six-year-old Chem Chay is married with four children. She shares the positive change she has made in terms of taking care of her children’s health.

“I have four children. I note that my youngest son is healthier than my older three children. I used to practice as my grandmother did in the ancient time like accepting traditional birth attendants and delivering babies at home. After delivering the baby, I laid in the bed under which a fire had been prepared since we believed that it’s helped for my blood transition to work well; and it would help me have nice skin.

“Before, I never went to the health centre. I thought the ways our ancestors practiced was better, and easier, and of course it’s cheaper to deliver a baby at home and we could afford it. I handed to the traditional birth attendant only a bowl of rice, bananas and small amount of money.

“I taught my previous children to eat like adults with porridge, boiled water, and sometimes gave them rice while they were an age of around three months. I did not breastfed them often since I couldn’t produce enough breast milk. Very often, I sucked up the rice in my mouth, and then I hand fed it to my babies. My children mostly got diarrhoea, and they looked so skinny with pale skin.

“My health was not really good too. I usually got dizzy, and felt exhausted for no reason. 

“I got to know World Vision’s project through the many of mothers in my community who talked about vitamins for children. Then, I was invited to attend the meetings of how to make porridge full of vitamins for young children. 

“I spent some times rethinking about my previous acts to my young kids. They were so small, but I didn’t provide them the right food for their health and improvement. I was so upset at myself.

“World Vision staff came to my house often to awaken me to pay more attention to the health of myself and all my children. They provided me with good knowledge about health care and living with good hygiene to avoid sickness. 

“I got pregnant with my fourth son. I went to health centre regularly for my health check-ups and receive pregnancy pill care. I really love my baby, and I committed to practicing what I have learned from World Vision’s programme.

“I decided to give birth of my fourth baby at the health care centre because I learned it’s more safe and hygienic. I was so happy to see my little boy looked so strong with white skin. 

“Daily, I remind my young children to keep themselves clean and to avoid of eating food with flies around it since it would cause diarrhoea and other diseases. I sometimes make vitamin porridge for my children. They seemed not to get used to eating it at first since as it’s mixed up of vegetables. I see they kept trying to eat that porridge though. 

“Further, I have received several packs of vitamins for my children. I compare the health of my all children. I have noted that my fourth son is healthier and stronger. My fourth son is so active and he’s so smart. He likes eating vegetable so much while his older brothers and sister do not. They are different.

“My fourth son is now 18 months old, and he’s 11kgs. He’s healthy, he never gets sick and I never pay a cent for his health treatment. I now understand that health is the most important thing for all babies and children. If they get sick, we, the parents, couldn’t do anything regarding earning income. I love what I have practiced lately; even my family’s living condition seems not to be really good but my children now live in good health, especially my youngest son.

“I think it’s because of all lessons I have learned and I practice. Thanks to project staff of World Vision for all good ideas to all mothers to love children’s health. I now love and care my children’s health and my health.”