The story of one fistula girl, Anafghat
Originating from Tarbiyat, a remote settlement of 2000 Tuareg herders Anafghat was customarily given away in marriage at 11 years of age for a dowry of one camel. She became pregnant while still going through puberty and endured an agonizing 4 day labour before eventually gaving birth to a still born baby boy.
In December 2004, Anafghat had to travel to Naimey to have surgery to repair a 3 inch wide fistula
Whilst recovering in hospital her father made her a promise
"Father you must promise me that when we go back I can go to school, and that my sisters wont get married so early"
It was a lot to ask of her father, a goat herd...but he promised. When she recovered from her surgery, Anafghat returned to her village and insisted on returning to school, picking up where she left off in third grade. She also began talking to girls about the health perils of early marriage and early pregnancy.
June 2007: sad news as Anafghat passes away
Anafghat Ayouba, the teenager who sought to change the practice of early marriage in the West African country of Niger, died suddenly from complications of an infection on May 25, 2007.
