Kamo’s Bold Decision for Health and Nutrition

“I wanted my wife to gain weight and be healthy after repeated pregnancies,” Kamo Kukuwa reflected on the decision that transformed his life and his family’s future. In a community where traditions held sway, Kamo made a choice few men dared to consider—he opted for a vasectomy.

A local from Saiwase Village in the Delta Fly District of Western Province, Kamo is a Village Health Assistant (VHA) and a Lead Farmer with the Better and Enhanced Agriculture for Nutrition (BEAN) Project.

Since becoming a VHA and lead farmer in 2022, Kamo has undergone various trainings, including Climate Smart Agriculture, Gender Equality Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), Resilience Inclusive Social Enterprise (RISE), Infant Young Child Feeding (IYCF), and Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition.

As part of his role as a VHA, Kamo does nutrition awareness on breastfeeding, family planning, and infant young child feeding, he identifies underweight and sick children and refers them to the nearest health center, does cooking demonstrations on nutritious cooking to the caregivers of underweight children, and does monthly monitoring on underweight children and reports the data monthly.

These experiences opened his eyes to the pressing issue of malnutrition in his community, which stemmed largely from families struggling to provide enough food for their children.

Kamo observed that many families had as many as eight children and found it increasingly difficult to feed them all. As he reflected on his five daughters, this reality hit home, sparking a deep interest in child nutrition and family planning. For Kamo, his decision was not just personal; it was an act of love and responsibility to ensure that his wife, Helen, could focus on her health while they built a life together with their daughters.

With the support of Helen and their children, Kamo became the first man in his community to undergo a vasectomy.

A vasectomy is a form of male birth control that seals the tube that carries sperm. “When word got around that I had a vasectomy, other men in the community approached me for information about my experience. I shared my experience and the reason why I had a vasectomy, and soon after, ten more men decided to undergo the procedure, “said Kamo.

His choice was motivated by his desire to support Helen, whom he noticed had experienced negative effects from other family planning methods.

“It was a tough decision, but I have no regrets. My wife is healthier now, and she even accompanied me to the clinic for the procedure,” he said smiling.

Kamo recognised that food scarcity was another significant challenge for his growing family. Through his training with the BEAN project, he learned the importance of nutrition and healthy family dynamics.

Helen echoed this sentiment, noting the positive changes in Kamo’s behavior since he joined the project as a VHA.

“He’s more supportive, helping with cooking and gardening. The biggest change was his decision to get a vasectomy,” she said, clearly proud of her husband.

His passion for his role as a VHA allows him to make a meaningful contribution to both his community and family.

“I plant different vegetables in my garden using seeds from the BEAN project. I support not only malnourished children and their parents but also individuals with disabilities and community events with the produce I grow,” Kamo stated.

Meanwhile, Kamo and his wife Helen recently celebrated the positive impact that they believe proper nutrition has had on their daughter Kaylene’s school performance.

Sixteen-year-old Kaylene is Kamo and Helen's first daughter, she is in Grade 6 at the local primary school. She shared her experience of how she believes the change in her family’s diet has contributed to the improvement in her grades.

“I used to feel sleepy in class all the time and was not doing well in school, but since Dad started introducing healthier food, especially garden food in our meals every day, I now feel more awake and have not been falling asleep in class as in the past, I have also noticed an improvement in my grades, “said Kaylene.

Kamo has become an advocate for change in his community, inspired by the progress he has seen in his daughters. “I am grateful for my five girls; they help me in the garden and with our home,” he said.

Kamo expressed his appreciation for the BEAN project and acknowledged that it has changed his life, his family, and his community for the better.

‘’People in my community have embraced these changes and understand the need for better nutrition in the community. They are now making gardens and growing a variety of foods and I am happy to see these changes.” Kamo added. Kamo has also been able to sell his produce, enhancing his family’s financial stability.