Marpeh’s Story Marpeh’s Story How love withstands and conquers all. You will discover how love is everything.” the author
This book is a property of A Story of love that stood the test of time Written and illustrated by: Dr. Thomas MUYOMBO
Marpeh’s Story
A Story of love that stood the test of time
Written and illustrated by: Dr. Thomas MUYOMBO
H.E. Mrs. CLAR MARIE WEAH, First Lady of Liberia Message As the First Lady of Liberia and ambassador of “Merck more than a Mother” campaign, I am very happy to share with you this inspiring story of Marpeh and Kumba. As you all know, in many cultures, childless women still suffer discrimination, stigma and ostracism. It is sad to know that women are blamed for infertility, although 50% of infertility are due to men. We need to encourage men to speak up and discuss their infertility issues openly and know that fertility is a shared responsibility. One in every four couples in developing countries suffer infertility. This prevalence rate is high indeed. Majority of infertility cases can be due to untreated infectious disease, such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Genital mutilation, unsafe abortion, and unsafe delivery, hence prevention is very important and this is one of the main objectives of the campaign. Therefore I am very happy to work closely with Merck Foundation to empower women and raise awareness among our communities, with special focus on the youth (girls and boys) through this story, to know how to prevent infertility, how to protect themselves and also how to value themselves whether they are mothers or not. Women are more than just mothers, they are productive members in society and should be respected. This story is part of the ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ campaign which is very close to my heart. I hope you will understand the message behind it. I believe we must prepare our children for tomorrow with the right family values of love and respect. Having a child, takes both a man and a woman, every woman is more than a mother, every man is more than a father.
H.E. Mrs. CLAR MARIE WEAH,
The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
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Dr. Dr. RASHA RASHA KELEJ KELEJ Message Message As an As African an African woman woman and the and CEO the of CEO Merck of Merck Foundation, Foundation, I am very I amproud very proud to introduce to introduce this inspiring this inspiring story story of Marpeh of Marpeh and Kumba. and Kumba. In many In many cultures, cultures, childless childless women women still suffer still suffer discrimination, discrimination, stigmastigma and ostracism. and ostracism. An inability An inability to have toahave a child or child to become or to become pregnant pregnant can result can result in being in being greatlygreatly isolated, isolated, disinherited disinherited or assaulted. or assaulted. This often This results often results in divorce in divorce or physical or physical and psychological and psychological violence. violence. Therefore Therefore we have wecreated have created “Merck “Merck More More Than aThan Mother” a Mother” campaign campaign with the withaim thetoaim define to define manymany interventions interventions to empower to empower infertile infertile women women through through accessaccess to to information, information, healthhealth and change and change of mind-set. of mind-set. This story This is story oneisofone these of these interventions interventions to break to break the stigma the stigma around around infertile infertile women women and raises and raises awareness awareness aboutabout infertility infertility prevention prevention and male and infertility. male infertility. It’s important It’s important for parents for parents and caregivers and caregivers to start to teaching start teaching respect respect and nurturing and nurturing empathy empathy from from a verya very youngyoung age. We age.should We should teach teach boys these boys these qualities qualities at their at schools their schools and through and through media.media. I believe I believe both boys both boys and girls andneed girls the need same the kind sameof kind guidance. of guidance. Just like Justgirls, like girls, youngyoung boys gradually boys gradually learn learn how to how control to control their their behavior behavior duringduring their their pre-school pre-school and and elementary elementary schoolschool years.years. This story This is story our isway ourtoway empower to empower our boys ourto boys develop to develop true respect true respect for women for women and and knowknow few facts fewabout facts about Infertility Infertility prevention prevention and how andithow affects it affects both men bothand menwomen and women equally. equally. Reading Reading Marpeh’s Marpeh’s story will storyteach will teach our children our children to respect to respect and value and value all people all people Regardless Regardless of being of being parents parents or not. orItnot. willItalso willhelp also preparing help preparing our children our children for tomorrow for tomorrow with the withright the right familyfamily valuesvalues of love of and love and respect. respect. Everyone Everyone deserves deserves respect respect and love, and and love,should and should never never ever be ever overlooked be overlooked or, worse, or, worse, abused abused — — even ifeven theyifare they childless. are childless. I hopeI you hopewill youunderstand will understand the story’s the story’s message message “Having “Having a child, a child, takes takes both aboth mana and mana and woman, a woman, every every woman woman is more is more than athan Mother, a Mother, EveryEvery man isman more is more than athan Father a Father “. “. EnjoyEnjoy reading reading Marpeh’s Marpeh’s story….. story…..
Dr. Rasha Dr. Rasha KelejKelej
CEOCEO of Merck of Merck Foundation Foundation President President of Merck of Merck moremore thanthan a Mother a Mother
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In a land In a fland ar awf ay arlives away alives man acalled man called MarpehMarpeh Marpeh’Marpeh’ is married is married to Kumba, to Kumba, his childhood his childhood love. love.
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Marpeh’Marpeh’ and Kumba and Kumba are wealthy are wealthy due to due their to their hard work. hard work. Two years Two years ago, Marpeh’ ago, Marpeh’ and Kumba and went Kumba went out inout their in their farm tfo arm to work. work.
They were They were sayingsay lovely ing lovely wordswords to one toanother. one another. m y lm ove y l ove Kumba, Kumba, i love i love yo u yo u l ik e liikne e ver i ne ver loved loved before. before.
yo u ayo re u athe re the bes tbes husba t husba nd nd in the in the worlworl d d Marpeh’Marpeh’ . .
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I wonder I wonder how how theythey can be canhappy be happy likelike thatthat whenwhen theythey can’tcan’t have have children. children. The The woman woman is infertile is infertile . .
A lady A lady called called Jatu Jatu and her andson her son Tarpeh Tarpeh passed passed by Marpeh by Marpeh and Kumba and Kumba farm.farm.
Tarpeh, Tarpeh, let let us say us Asay good A good hello hello to Marpeh’ to Marpeh’ and Kumba and Kumba I THINK I THINK YOU YOU KNOWKNOW THEM,THEM, DON’T DON’T YOU? YOU? I need I need TO LET TO LET THEMTHEM KNOWKNOW how how miserable miserable theythey should should feel.feel.
YES IYES DO, I DO, MOTHER MOTHER Hello Hello lovebirds! lovebirds! Hello Hello jatu. jatu.
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And then... And then... ARE Y ARE OU YOU SERIOUS? SERIOUS?
ow How can someone can someone barren barren likelike you you umbaKumba pretend pretend to be to happy? be happy? ou should You should be be mourning mourning and and hiding hiding youryf our ace.face.
Jatu Jatu WENTWENT ON... ON...
ou should you should give give youryour husband husband a child a child or or elseelse return return to to youryparents. our parents. Marpeh Marpeh oesnt doesnt deserve deserve this, this, he ishe a kind is a kind man. man.
NO!NO!
AND Kumba AND Kumba STARTED STARTED CRYING CRYING
Jatu, Jatu, how how can y can ou be you be so cruel so cruel likelike that? that? WhatWhat did we diddo weto do to you? you?
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Marpeh Marpeh was shocked was shocked
KumbaKumba my love, my love, please please don’t don’t cry. Y cry ou. know You know how how I love I love you, don’t you, don’t mindmind anything anything she says. she says.
And... Marpeh And... Marpeh wentwent away away
Don’t Don’t thinkthink about about whatwhat she said she. Isaid love . I love you with you with all my all my heart heart and Iand don't I don't mindmind notnot having having children children
She just She just said said thatthat I am Ibarren! am barren! You know You know I also I also lovelove children children like like every every woman. woman.
Marpeh Marpeh and Kumba and Kumba wentwent back back homehome
KumbaKumba People People lovelove to talk to talk but but theirtheir talk talk will not will not stopstop our love our. love.
Marpeh Marpeh and Kumba and Kumba werewere happyhappy onceonce again.again.
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One One weekweek after, after, KumbaKumba wentwent to to theirtheir farmft arm o HARVEST to HARVEST oranges oranges
I should I should hurry hurry , my , my husband husband has ahas business a business meeting meeting to attend to attend . .
Marpeh Marpeh was st was anding standing in front in front of of theirtheir house house waiting waiting for Kumba for Kumba to to comecome . He didn’t . He didn’t wantwant to go toand go and leaveleave no one no one at home at home . .
wentwent homehome fast fast umbaKumba
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Kumba got Kumba there goton there time on time
here here she comes. she comes. She is never She is never late. late.
Kumba sweetheart Kumba sweetheart , let , let me run tme o the runbusiness to the business meeting.meeting I don’t .wIant don’t want to be late to. be late.
On his way Ontohisthe waymeeting to the, meeting Marpeh was , Marpeh was wondering wondering what kindwhat of business kind of business his his friends w friends anted t wo anted discuss towith discuss him. with him.
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Marpeh entered Marpeh entered the the meetingmeeting place place
ondered He wondered if his if his nds w friends anted t wo anted buy to buy the y all ieldthe he ygets ield he gets m his from farm, his farm,
Or if they Or wif anted they t wo anted to offer him ofsome fer him money some money to invest toininvest his farming in his farming business.business.
I see them I see in them in the corner the corner
Hello Hello Marpeh Marpeh
Hello
Hello
Long time Long my time my friends! friends! What What businessbusiness do you do you have for have me? for me?
Finally, Finally,
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And then, And then,
You seeYou Marpeh, see Binda Marpeh,AND Binda I have ANDbeen I have been thinkingthinking about yabout ou. We know you. We you know areysad ou are sad becausebecause your wife your is infertile wife is infertile . Let’s help . Let’s help
What? What?
Morlu ISMorlu RIGHTIS . We RIGHT think . We t you should you leave shouldthat leave th miserable miserable woman you woman haveyo as a wifeas . a wife.
Let meLet tellme tell you something you something , , I can never Okay!!! Now Okay!!! I Now II can never leave my leave wife.my wife. see thesee kind the kind Infertile Infertile or or of business of business not, I love not,her. I love her. you called you called me for! me for!
Not allNot all women are women are barren, barren, leave lea her. her.
Let’s Let’s leave this leave this discussion discussion here. here.
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The next Themorning next morning , Marpeh decided , Marpeh decided to takethis o twife ake his wife Kumba toKumba the t hospit o thealhospit to seek al tsome o seek medical some medical help. help.
Kumba my Kumba love,my love, I promise I promise to to do everything do everything for youft or o be you to be treated treated . .
Thank you Thank you Marpeh my Marpeh my everything everything . .
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At the hospit At the al hospital
They asked They to asked talk totoa talk to a reproductive reproductive health physician health physician Let us Let us see if the see if the Gynaecologist Gynaecologist is around,is hearound, he will help. will help.
I hope this I hope this is not is not serious. serious.
Don’t worry Don’t w my love my lo
The gynaecologist The gynaecologist I will care I will care for her no for her no matter what matter . what. Hello Hello Hello
Hello
Doctor, Doctor, I have brought I have brought my wife for my treatment wife for treatment , , we think she we think is she is infertile.infertile. 14 14
That’s okay That’ , buts yokay ou , but yo cannot tell cannot before tell befo we do tests. we do Ittests. It might be might you who behas you who h infertility infertility . .
AFTER DOING AFTER ALL THE DOING ALL THE REQUIRED TESTS, REQUIRED IT TESTS, IT WAS Marpeh WHO WAS Marpeh HAD THE WHO HAD THE PROBLEM THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSING THAT WAS CAUSING THE INFERTILITY THE INFERTILITY . Marpeh . Marpeh HAD A LOW SPERM HAD A LOW COUNT SPERM . COUNT. THE DOCTOR THE TOLD DOCT THEM OR TOLD THEM THAT INTRAUTERINE THAT INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION INSEMINATION (IUI ) (IUI ) PROCEDUREPROCEDURE IS REQUIRED ISTREQUIRED O TO BE DONE. BE DONE. Marpeh AND Marpeh Kumba AND AGREED Kumba TOAGREED TO THE PROCEDURE THE PROCEDURE . .
What? Me?What? Me? No way. No way. A man is never A man is never infertile.infertile.
THE DOCTOR THE TOLD DOCT THEM OR TOLD THEM THAT MANYTHAT CASESMANY OF CASES OF INFERTILTYINFERTIL Are TREAT TY ABLE Are TREATABLE ONCE theyONCE are Dthey IAGNOSED are DIAGNOSED EARLY. EARLY.
I have never I have never seen oneseen one Men too can Menbe too can be infertileinfertile infertile...infertile Let us ... Let us man in myman inhope my you hope two are you two are life. life.
HE MENTIONED HE MENTIONED THE THE FOLLOWINGFas OLLOWING the major as the major CAUSES OF CAUSES INFERTILITY OF INFERTILITY ; ; - POOR NUTRITION - POOR NUTRITION - UNTREATED - UNTREATED SEXUALLY SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED TRANSMITTED DESEASES DESEASES SUCH AS CLAMYD SUCHIAASAND CLAMYDIA AND gonorrhoea, gonorrhoea, - CONSEQUENCE - CONSEQUENCE OF OF INFECTIONSINFECTIONS CAUSED BY CAUSED BY PRACTICE OF PRACTICE FEMALEOF FEMALE GENITAL MUTIL GENIT TION, AL MUTIL UNSAFE TION, UNSAFE ABORTION OR ABORTION UNSAFE OR UNSAFE DELIVERY. DELIVERY. - the use - the of herbal use of herbal douches and douches enemas andwhich enemas which led to pelvic led to infections pelvic infections and tubaland blockage. tubal blockage.
let us let us hope so. hope so.
- EXPOSURE - EXPOSURE TO SMOKING T,O SMOKING, LEADED PETROL LEADED AND PETROL OTHERAND OTHER ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT AL POLLUTANTS. AL POLLUTANTS.
i did not i did not HE TOLD THEM HE TTHAT OLD THEM ONCETHAT ONCE know this.know this. YOU GO FORYOU REGULAR GO FORCHECK REGULAR CHECK UP AND CONSUL UP AND T EVERY CONSULT EVERY TIME YOU ARE TIME SICK, YOUYOU ARECAN SICK, YOU CAN EASILY PREVENT EASILYYOURSELF PREVENT YOURSELF FROM HAVING FROM INFERTILITY HAVING INFERTILITY . .
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Marpeh AND Marpeh Kumba AND thanked Kumba thanked the doctor the and doct went or home and went . home.
Marpeh AND Kumba agreed to undergo the intrauterine insemination (IUI)procedure
Marpeh waited patiently.
the doctorplaced Marpeh’s sperminside Kumba ’s uterusto facilitatefertilization.
Kumba took a pregnancy test after fourteen day,Marpeh met Jatu and Binda on the way to the market... days and she was pregnant. nine months after the intrauterine (iui) procedure, it wMy as friends, time to go to the hospit al infertility is not Doayou have asname for I have learnt that curse , it’ to give birth. a condition that affects both men and womenthis andlittle can becutie in womb? treated once someone seeks treatment early.the No one should be stigmatized because they are infertile.
I think I will name him Marpeh Kumba
Now I have learnt my lesson. What you are saying They both smiled and is right. went on...
apologize or the bad ords and oul mouth.
The End 19
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Marpeh and Kumba were happy Marpeh AND Kumba agreed to undergo the intrauterine insemination (IUI)procedure No Marpeh, you are more I am happy, than a father now I am a father.
Marpeh waited patiently.
Marpeh smiled.
You were more than a father even before we had this baby
Yes, Kumba my love. You are also more than a mother.
the doctorplaced Marpeh’s sperminside Kumba ’s uterusto facilitatefertilization.
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One day,Marpeh met Jatu and Binda on the way to the market...
My friends, I have learnt that infertility is not a curse, it’s a condition that affects both men and women and can be treated once someone seeks treatment early.No one should be stigmatized because they are infertile.
Now I have learnt my lesson. What you are saying is right.
I apologize for the bad words and foul mouth.
The End 19
Marpeh and Kumba were happy No Marpeh, you are more than a father
I am happy, now I am a father.
Spread the word to the world with us. Say no for infertility stigma
OUR HASHTAGS #NoToInfertilyStigma #MoreThanAMother
#MoreThanAFather
Marpeh smiled. You were more Share your story with us on social media and use the above hashtags and let the world than a father Yes, Kumba m know that infertility affects both men and women equally. No woman or man should even before love . You ar suffer stigmatisation due to inferility. we had this also more baby than a mothe
Copyright © 2018 by Merck Foundation
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below. Merck Foundation gGmbH, is a non-profit organization and the Philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA. E-mail: info@merck-foundation.com | www.merck-foundation.com
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Marpeh’s Story Marpeh’s Story How love withstands and conquers all. You will discover how love is everything.” the author
This book is a property of A Story of love that stood the test of time Written and illustrated by: Dr. Thomas MUYOMBO