Zambia: Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital of the Ndola District has reported two different cases of child abuse. The victims are both girls aged between 8 to 14 and have sustained abuse from their families.
A woman has burnt her step daughter for stealing a 20 Kwacha note in Ndola District. The teachers of the victim found that the 8 year old had been hurt and rushed her to the hospital for treatment.
At the hospital, the victim informed her caregivers that her step mother had burnt her fingers on the brazier for stealing a k20. The mother wanted to discourage this behaviour and teach her a lesson but went overboard with the punishment.
After the teachers of the schools that she was studying in noticed her wounds, they took her to receive medical support. The Public Relations Officer of the Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital, Sean Kamwendo confirmed the development.
He was speaking at Arthur Davidson Children’s Hospital in Ndola in the Copperbelt Province. The incident has been reported to the police and the investigation into the incident has also started.
The hospital authorities have suggested that they are dealing with the incident as a case of child abuse. The administration of the district has been worried about the issue of increasing cases of child abuse in the region.
The leaders have shared that they are urging the people of Zambia to report the incidents to the authorities. This will help the Police and other law enforcement officials in protecting the children from being abused.
On the other hand, the Public Relations officer for Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital also revealed that a 14 year old girl has allegedly been abused sexually by her guardian’s son.
According to the hospital publicist, the child is currently admitted to the intensive care unit at the hospital. She has not revealed any details about the exact condition of the victim.
Kamwendo has since appealed to members of the public to report any form of suspected child abuse to the Police Station to help reduce on the increased numbers of child abuse cases being recorded at the hospital.