Thursday, March 22, 2012

Nine-day-old Baby Malaika out of danger, say doctors



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By REBECCA OKWANY rokwany@ke.nationmedia.com AND SANDRA CHAO schao@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, March 20  2012 at  22:30
Baby Malaika turned nine days old on Tuesday as doctors declared that she was out of danger and headed towards full recovery.
“At the moment Baby Malaika is completely out of danger and the wounds are responding well to treatment.
“The only thing that will be a reminder of the incident are the scars of the wound and the amputation,” said Dr Victor Bandika of the Coast General Hospital.
The Nation found the little bundle of joy sleeping peacefully in her bed in the general children’s ward after almost a week in the special ward where she underwent corrective surgery last week.
Dozens of get-well cards were on her cot and the line of visitors waiting to see her kept growing by the minute.
One of the get-well cards captured the intensity of the love for the baby.
“Words alone cannot convey our sympathy but we will do anything to bring you comfort at this trying time,” read the card from Jestan Group Foundation.
The baby was found dumped in a bush last week by herdsman Tsuma Mwandalo. (READ: How baby survived dog attack after mother left her in the bush)
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She was only a day old but her face had been badly mutilated by what seemed to be dog bites. Half her right arm had been bitten off just above the elbow.
“She was brought to the hospital by a Good Samaritan from Rabai and we quickly started to work to stabilise her,” said nurse Cecilia Muthami.
The baby had been denied parental love and thrown to the dogs, practically. But like the proverbial cat with nine lives, she has valiantly fought the good fight for life and won admirers across the globe.
Since the Nation published that story on Tuesday last week, hundreds of people have called pledging to support her.
Many others have been closely following her recovery and expressed wish to clear her medical bill and even adopt her.
A paediatrician at the hospital, who only identified herself as Dr Vicky, said Baby Malaika had become the most popular patient the hospital has ever attended to.
“The hospital board paid her a visit earlier and donated diapers and soap specifically for her,” said Dr Vicky.
Mr Charles Munyeko, the hospital’s head of nursing, said the baby had shown a strong will to live. 
Dr Mark Solomon, who conducted corrective surgery on the girl, said she sustained severe injury to her right upper limb and facial structures.
Last Wednesday, the baby’s mother, Ms Grace Mwadziwe Mwinga, was charged in a Kaloleni court with child neglect.
She denied the charge and was released on bond. The case will be mentioned on March 27 and heard on April 5.

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