Mother of 15 children advises women on family planning

Ms. Hussaina Salisu, a 54-year-old woman who had 15 singleton births, has advised young mothers to carefully plan their families so as not to put their children’s future at risk.

The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reports that the woman, who had her first child at 14, gave birth to all 15 children over a 28-year period, with no multiple birth registration.

NAN also reports that the first child is 40 years old, while the youngest is 12 years old.

Hussaina, a native of Zaria in Kaduna state, told NAN on Tuesday in Mararaba, Nasarawa state, where she currently resides, that her pregnancies and deliveries were never a challenge.

“Pregnancies and births were never a challenge. The only challenge is raising the children. It has been a very difficult task.

“Most of them did not go to school. Some started, but withdrew.

“I had 13 of my 15 children alone and at home; only two were born in the hospital.

“I never got sick during my pregnancies or had complications during delivery, but that was in those days. I will not advise any woman of this generation to try.

“If I was as enlightened as I am now and had some knowledge about family planning, I would not have found myself in this situation.

“As you can see, this is how we live. Survival has become a Herculean task. These kids don’t go to school and we can’t even afford a decent meal, ” Hussaina, now divorced, told NAN.

She advised young married women, especially those in the north of the country, to choose to space their children and only have a considerable number of children they could care for, in case they found themselves in a situation like hers.

“I had seven children from my first marriage, we divorced and I married my second husband and had eight with him. But he left me and returned to his first wife, leaving me and the children.

“Some of the girls are now married, but none were able to receive an education before starting a family. So life has not been easy for them. They are practically living my kind of life.

“No mother wants to see her children suffer, but I have no choice. Watching them struggle to survive through these difficulties makes me very sad. “

But despite the tough times, Hussaina says she has no regrets about having them.

“Things are difficult for me and for the children, but I do not regret having brought them into this world. I love you deeply and I am willing to do anything to make you happy. I can’t give them up for nothing.

“They are already here and I believe in God’s divine plan. I have faith that God will send us helpers just as He has been doing, because my children and I live off the goodwill of our neighbors and many kind people. “

“Mom 15”, as she is popularly known in the area, also revealed that her mother had 17 children, albeit with three multiple births: two sets of twins and a pair of triplets.

“That’s why my brothers and I couldn’t go to school because there were too many of us.

“Also, at that time, a woman’s future was always determined from birth; she will simply marry once she reaches puberty.”

One of the girls, Binta Salisu, who spoke with NAN, said that she was in school until junior high school (JSS) 2, but had to drop out two years ago because she could not afford to go further.

He appealed to NGOs, philanthropists and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the populous family.

“We need help. We need food. We need education. We need support. People should help us,” he said.

In addition, he advised young mothers to make sure they had something to do to survive.

“Every woman should get a trade. Every woman needs something to lean on when in a situation like ours. No woman should be inactive. “

The 18-year-old Binta appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid, as she was still passionate about going back to school and completing her education.

“I don’t want to end up like the rest of my sisters. I want to acquire an education and compete for opportunities in life.

“The only way to have a meaningful life is through education. I want education. I am eager and ready. Someone should help me, ”she told NAN, fighting back tears.

NAN reports that four of Hussaina’s children are late. (NAN)