Survivor stories
Naieema, Pakistan
“I was sleeping when I felt as if someone had thrown something really hot on me and after that it has been nothing but continuous pain.”
After the sudden death of her husband, Naieema was remarried to her husband’s elder brother who himself was already married. In the summer of 2008, Naieema was sleeping in the courtyard of her house in a remote village in Muzaffargarh in the Punjab. She was attacked with highly concentrated acid by the nephew of her new husband’s first wife. Jealousy may have been the reason but the intention was clear – to disfigure Naieema beyond any recognition.
When Nazeera was taken to the Acid Survivors Foundation in Islamabad, she was accompanied by her 5 year old daughter Samina. Both were given free, essential physiological therapy and counselling and Samina understands and has come to terms with her mother’s disfigurement. Sadly her youngest child has not.
After the incident, Naieema has been left with most of her body recovering from burns that have destroyed her eyes and has left her face without a trace of any features. The mother of two daughters, Naieema lives separated from her three year old daughter, who is too terrified to be affectionate with her mother. Naieema now lives with her mother (who herself is deaf and mute).
This photo was taken moments before the bus departed from Multan, southern Punjab, on route to the ASF centre in Islamabad. Valerie Khan, director of ASF-Pakistan and Sardar Jatoi, the ASF-Pakistan field officer working in the Southern Punjab region, mobilised 12 acid survivors to all embark on the 10 hour overnight bus journey to the ASF centre, where three expert volunteers from the UK – ASTI’s Burns Physical Rehabilitation Team – were awaiting their arrival.
Local Plastic Surgeon, Dr Hamid Hassan, who treated Naieema said, “Her last surgery was in October 2008. We can’t leave her like this. I think we have to do [surgery] again, but I think it is a question of timing.
With the passage of time, the skin will become more compressed, and at least will allow for her to stabilise in whatever condition she is in. Until then we will delay any surgery.
I am very afraid for Nazeera. The acid was very strong to make it respond like this”.
