Acid attack survivors await facial reconstruction

For victims of gender-based violence suffering from episodes of post-traumatic stress, the road to emotional healing is often precarious however, the ordeal is much more complicated for acid attack survivors, who in the absence of facial reconstruction options, relive the trauma every time they pass by a mirror.

Even though some government hospitals carry out primary burn’s treatment for acid attack survivors, no public health facility exists for offering facial reconstruction surgery to the victims for regenerating the deep wounds on their faces and bodies, which apart from causing them immense pain are also a source of despondence for the victims since they prevent them from fully reintegrating into their social lives.

Samiya Shahid, a 35-year-old mother of three from Liaquatabad, was traveling with her husband on their motorbike when two unknown men attacked her with acid, soon after she had turned down the sexual advances made by her landlord.

“I received only primary burns treatment at the General Hospital, and later had to seek further surgical treatment at a non-governmental organization (NGO). Even though some of the wounds have healed, I still require multiple reconstruction surgeries for the remaining scars, which become excruciating during the winter,” shared Samiya.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, for Samiya the pain of the scars was subsumed by the emotional turmoil that she had to experience as she witnessed the changing attitudes of the family and friends she had once held close.

“The agony that I felt during the acid attack was a one-time occurrence but the psychological suffering that I have to endure, because of the bitter remarks that are hurled by my relatives at my appearance, sees no end,” bewailed Samiya, who also faced victim blaming from most people in her social circle especially her affines.

Farwa Tauqeer, regional head of an NGO, was of the opinion that acid attack survivors need reconstructive treatment not only for alleviating their physical pain but also to help them gain social acceptability and lead normal lives.

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“A bottle of acid spoils the life of a woman. In order for her to start a new life, proper surgical treatment and psychological counselling are indispensable,” asserted Tauqeer, who went on to inform that facial reconstruction surgeries are quite expensive and are not offered by any government hospital.

According to sources, acid attack survivors require at least 8 to 10 facial reconstruction surgeries which cost anywhere between Rs60,000 to Rs70,000 at private clinics, and are hence completely unaffordable for the survivor and her family.

“Government hospitals only offer primary burns treatment. Patients have to either spend hundreds of thousands of rupees for facial reconstruction surgery or have to wait for an NGO to offer them treatment,” revealed a source.

It is worthy of mentioning here that insurance companies operating in Pakistan do not include reconstructive surgery in their health coverage packages since the procedure is termed as cosmetic.

“In order to address the grievances of acid attack survivors, The New Life Program has recently been initiated under which all reconstructive surgeries required by an acid attack survivor will be performed free of cost, with a gap of three to four months between successive surgeries for optimal recovery,” said Dr Kamran Khalid, Chief Executive of the Burns Centre at the Jinnah Hospital in Lahore.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, Chairperson of the Punjab Social Protection Authority, Jahan Ara Wattoo said,”

The New Life Program will not only offer free of cost treatment for the victim but shall also provide legal and financial assistance to their family.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2023.