Childline rescues ill kids dumped by tippler dad

VADODARA: The sight inside a shanty in

Sevasi

area could have melted the strongest of hearts. A four-year-old boy and his younger brother just two years of age were famished, running high fever and too weak to even speak.

The siblings were rescued by the

Baroda Citizens Council

(

BCC

)

Childline

last week after they were informed about them by some Good Samaritan.

The Childline volunteers rushed the brothers to

GMERS Hospital

in Gotri where the elder one was diagnosed with malaria and the younger with severe viral fever.

"The kids' mother had left the house without informing anyone a year ago. Their father, who takes up casual labour work sometimes, mostly remains in an inebriated condition. Even their grandmother was not taking care of them," a source at BCC Childline told TOI.

Doctors said it would have been difficult to save the elder one had he not got treatment in time as the haemoglobin level has fallen drastically because of days of delay.

After the two kids were admitted to the hospital, nobody from their family cared to come to the hospital to see them. "We had to send a volunteer to get the kids' grandmother to come to the hospital. Even after she came, our volunteer has been with her all the time so that she does not escape," said the source.

The younger boy has recovered but the elder one is still quite ill. Doctors have administered vitamin B12 injections and other medicines to raise his nutrient levels.

"After the kids are discharged from the hospital, we will admit them to the child care home where they will also receive formal education," said Shivang Mehta, coordinator, BCC Childline.


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