GEORGE MBOGAH
I grew up in a polygamous family in Kenya.
My father had four wives and 26 children. In our house alone, we were nine children, and I was the eldest. We often lacked basic things like food, clothing and school fees. I was a good student and was accepted to go to a vocational college, but there was no money, so I dropped out and started working as a casual laborer.
Because of what I experienced growing up, I always knew I wanted something different for my own family. I witnessed how difficult it was for a father to provide for many children, so having a small, planned family was always important to me. In 2002, I got married to my wife, Ruth and we stayed childless until 2011, when God blessed us with our lovely daughter. Soon after, Ruth began experiencing debilitating pain and side effects from the family planning pills we were using. Watching my dear wife suffer broke my heart and I told her, “I cannot let you continue suffering while I stand and watch.”
I first heard about vasectomies on the radio so I went from hospital to hospital, looking for somewhere I could have the procedure, but in vain. Eventually, I was directed to Marie Stopes in Kisumu. There I met a man named Dr. Charles Ochieng, who welcomed me and told me to return home and wait for a vasectomy team that was coming to Busia from the USA.
At first, Ruth was surprised when I told her I wanted to have a vasectomy. In our culture, people think family planning is only for women. But we talked about it, and she fully supported me with all her heart. We did not involve anyone else in the decision. It was personal to us.
One year later, while living on the border of Tanzania in a town called Isebania, I got word that the vasectomy mission was arriving, so I traveled 300 kilometers and 22 hours by truck to get there. I remember being a bit nervous when I arrived, but when I met Ochieng again, and then Jonathan Stack and Dr. Doug Stein, I felt at peace. Dr. Stein performed my non-scalpel vasectomy. It was quick and I felt no pain and I walked out a proud man. I chose vasectomy because as a loving husband, I wanted to rise above the idea that it is only women who do family planning.
After the vasectomy, we felt great peace and joy. We knew our family was complete. Fourteen years have now passed, and I have never regretted my decision. Our daughter, who was born in 2011, is now turning 14 years old. I am proud to be a living testimony for men of goodwill to embrace this time-tested family planning method. For me, it was a decision I made out of love for my wife and in a way has made it possible for me to give my daughter the kind of future I wished I had growing up.
Life is not easy here in Kenya. Earlier this year, I suffered a bad motorcycle accident and have not been able to work, and just a few weeks ago my wife was diagnosed with a tumor which needed immediate removal, but fourteen years after I traveled to Busia for my own vasectomy, I am still here, we are still in love, my daughter is entering high school and I am proud to share my story with other men.
I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me along this journey, and in particular, I want to thank everyone who donated money to make Ruth’s surgery possible, and for me to continue supporting World Vasectomy Day and continue caring for my family.
