8 month old from Makunudhoo being treated for burns

An 8 month old infant from Haa Dhaalu atoll Makunudhoo has suffered burns from hot water.

The child's father told Mihaaru News that last Tuesday, the child had got burned from hot water when he pulled at a towel on which a kettle of boiling water had been kept.

The mother was working in the kitchen at the time, while the child was in a walking cot.

The child was taken to the hospital within 10 minutes of the incident, the family said.

The health centre released the child after covering the wounds with bandage.

The father said they had checked on the wounds after removing the bandages when the child was asleep at night. At this point, they discovered that the burns were severe.

When taken back to the health centre, they said they were not aware the burns were that serious, the father said.

He said that the family had then attempted to take the child to the nearby island of Kulhudhuffushi for further treatment, but were unable to get seats on the RTL ferry. They were later also informed that the child could not be taken there under Aasandha coverage.

With this, the family then came to Male' yesterday on their own expense.

When a doctor at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital was consulted, they were told that the child had five to six percent burns.

An official from IGMH confirmed that an 8 month old is being treated in the ward for burn injuries.