Momena’s Story: A Life of Struggle, a Need for Continued Care

Momena’s life has been shaped by hardship from an early age. She was married off in childhood, before she had the opportunity to grow, study or build a life of her own. Instead of security, her first marriage brought suffering and then divorce even before she had a child.

After that, Momena was married off again and at 15 years of age, became the wife of a 60-year old man. They were blessed with a daughter, but after only a few years, her second husband died leaving Momena alone again. Momena and her daughter then lived on someone else’s land. Poverty, uncertainty and social vulnerability continued to follow her.  

Unable to bear the burden of survival, Momena also had to marry off her daughter in childhood. Momena stayed with her daughter’s new family for a few years, but there was not enough income or proper accommodation to support Momena. Eventually, she was forced to leave.

Today, Momena lives alone in a small hut built with the support of kind-hearted local people. She works whenever her health and circumstances allow but regular work is difficult for her. She suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes. Even arranging daily food is a struggle yet she needs regular medication to remain able to work.

Oasis for Posterity (OfP) is standing beside Momena by providing regular medication support. This helps her manage her health, continue working when possible and earn something for her daily food. For Momena, medicine is not just treatment. This timely and consistent support helps Momena survive, work when possible, and live with dignity and hope.

Momena’s story reflects the painful realities faced by many vulnerable women in Bangladesh: child marriage, poverty, widowhood, displacement, illness and loneliness. We are grateful to our donors and well-wishers. You enable OfP to support people like Momena, who have very little to depend on except compassion from others.