Kottayam: “I’m very happy with the progress he has made. There’s been great improvement in his health and a big thanks to the Almighty”. This was how Dr Nishanth Paul of St John’s hospital, Kattappana, reacted when he saw his little patient once again. It was Dr Paul who had provided the initial care and treatment to the battered Shafeeq, a victim of parental torture.
Dr Paul recalled that when the child was brought to the hospital, 75% of his brain had been damaged. “His condition was severe…almost hopeless. But we did our best”, he said.
The child was brought in an unconscious state by his father and stepmother. However, a detailed medical examination showed that the boy had been tortured mercilessly. He had burn marks on his body, skin scars suggesting that he had been pinched, a deep wound on his head and a broken leg.
“He has improved considerably. His vision, speech, hand movements and the way he holds his head show how much he has improved. He now smiles and repeats a few words. But there’s a lot more to be done”, said Dr Paul.
He said he would extend full support to the CWC Idukki, for the child’s treatment and as the child was under the protection of the Government, he would cooperate with the doctors of Idukki district hospital, where he would be under treatment from now.
Shafeeq was brought to the Swadhar shelter home at Cheruthony in Idukki on Friday morning. District Collector Ajith Patil and several others were present to welcome the child. Idukki CWC Chairman P.G. Gopalakrishnan said Shafeeq would be taken to CMC Vellore after three months, for a review.
