Annu, a physically-challenged seven-year-old girl who was left abandoned at Dhaka Medical College Hospital seven months ago, has been living in inhumane conditions though the authorities are informed about her.
The helpless girl had developed infectious wounds on her thigh when the Dhaka Tribune reporter visited her at the children’s ward yesterday afternoon.
“Such wounds have developed because her pampers have not been changed regularly,” said Hosne Ara, a female Ansar member.
The attendants of other patients claimed that her pampers had not been changed even after two days. They also said Annu was given bath once a week.
Replying to a query why Annu was not getting treatment for her wounds, Hashi Rani Das, an on-duty nurse at the ward, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We asked special attendant Phoolbanu to take care of her and clean her time to time. But she cleans her whenever she gets the time.”
Annu’s bed seemed extremely dirty. The bed sheet was not clean and littered with leftovers.
It was learnt that Annu is not fed properly. She is unable to eat herself because of her disability and most of the food given to her often goes waste.
A patient, who has been in a bed next to Annu, said he had been at the hospital for 17 days and did not see the girl bathed since.
However, Ansar member Rojina and Ahasania Mission staff member Nurnahar have been trying to feed and clean her whenever they get time. They are engaged in taking care of another abandoned boy named Siam.
Regarding the condition of the ill-fated girl, Deputy Director Mushfiqur Rahim of the hospital told the Dhaka Tribune that the authorities were aware of the condition of the girl.
He said: “We cannot let a child die in front of our eyes. We try our best to maintain the fundamental needs of the girl. But we are unable to monitor the situation all through the day.”
Annu was noticed by a Dhaka Tribune journalist when she went to the DMCH to visit Siam at the children’s ward. Doctors said she might have been abandoned for disability.
The Dhaka Tribune contacted high officials of Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) and requested them to see if there was any possibility to assist the girl.
Sister Valerie Ann Taylor, founder and coordinator of the CRP, introduced Shariful Islam, country coordinator of Canada-funded IPODMCH project, with the Dhaka Tribune reporter and requested that the conversation be taken to him in this regard.
Shariful said: “Firstly, someone has to write to the director of the CRP about the girl and then we will take necessary steps after understanding the situation.”
Later on Wednesday, a Dhaka Tribune reporter sent an email to the CRP authorities requesting them to take required steps.
Yesterday, Goutam Basak, publication and communication officer of the organisation, said: “We have already forwarded the email to our top authorities. It will take a couple of days to get a decision in this regard.”
