Lira regional referral hospital is stuck with the 12 year old jigger infested child who was admitted four days ago.
Nelson Okori is spending his fourth day in the hospital’s George Cosmas Adyebo ward, receiving treatment.
The 12 year old child was rushed to the facility on the orders of police after his grandfather Jasper Kali (50) was arrested by the police last Saturday for child neglect.
Hospital authorities are not sure what to do with Okori as no relatives have come forward to claim the minor since his grandfather was arrested.
Okori said on Wednesday morning that he was feeling relatively better. Wearing a dirty white shirt and torn pair of shorts, Okori was hopeful that he would be able to go back to school after he makes a full recovery.
He, however, said he did not want to revert into his grandfather’s care as he is afraid he might be mistreated again. Joe Otim, officer in charge child and family protection unit at Lira Central Police Station, said they are contemplating handing him over to his maternal grandfather Charles Ogwal.
Florence Sophie Ateng, principal nursing officer at the facility, said surgeons had spent two days removing jiggers from all parts of Okori’s body, including the buttocks. Dr. Drake Adupa, the acting hospital director, said they were using hydrogen peroxide to treat Okori’s wounds.
Ateng described Okori as malnourished. She said that he survives on food provided by well-wishers who visit the hospital. She appealed to Good Samaritans to assist in resettling the boy.
