Harifeya was born in the Tigray Region Wereda Hwerjrat and Tabia Tsehafti. She was married at the age of nine and was pregnant at the age of 12 and 13. However, her two pregnancies ended in stillbirths. She ended up with Fistula after her second pregnancy due to prolonged labor pain for seven days.

Harifeya’s husband immediately left her when he found out she had Fistula. She believed she would have Fistula her whole life. She thought she was the only person in the Tigray region with Fistula.

Her family was very supportive and encouraging to her when she had Fistula. They even lent her 1000birr so she could travel to Addis Ababa Hamlin Hospital for her surgery. She had Fistula for seven years until finally she received three surgeries at both the Mekelle Hospital and the Addis Ababa Hamlin Hospital to repair

her Fistula. Now, she is very happy. She lives with her sister in a village with a hand pump for drinking water but no electricity.

The average time it takes to get to the nearest health center is one hour by foot.

Wereda health center recommended Harifeya to attend the training at Healing Hands of Joy. She is very proud to be a Safe Motherhood Ambassador. She loved her time at the HHOJ center and the training she received. She is passionate to put an end to early marriage and Fistula and has already begun to teach her community.

She was inspired by the motivational speech of Beriha Reda, a SMA for Healing Hands of Joy, during the recent Hintalo Wejrat workshop. The speech gave Harifeya the vision to teach other pregnant women about Fistula.