By Mabinty M. Kamara
10-year-old rape victim admitted at the Magburaka government hospital has lost vital reproductive organs due to the infections sustained after the rape, according to medical reports.
The girl, according to the report was allegedly sexually penetrated by a Sheik (an Islamic tutor) in Konta Falma village in Masingbe and was later taken to the Magburaka government hospital with a report of abdominal pain and distention for two weeks and later lost both her left and right ovaries. “Further examinations were done under anesthesia revealing sexual penetration injuries to the vagina,” the report reads,
It added: “Highly vital parts of her uterus due to severe inflammatory infection damage were no longer viable as a result of the severe inflammation and were removed during an exploratory laparotomy surgical procedure on the 15th February 2021 in order to save her life.”
The girl according to the Chief Medical Superintendent at the Magburaka government hospital, Dr. John F. Yillia might not experience a normal monthly menstrual cycle due to the complications of the sexual penetration.
He said the girl has already recovered but that the hospital was hesitant to release her into the community and has called on the ministry of social welfare for the protection of the girl.
Speaking to Politico, Amadu Wurie, a Social Services Officer attached to the Social Welfare one-stop centre in Magburaka said his institution was aware of the situation of the girl and that they were already in touch with the hospital management for the discharge of the patient who will be taken into one of the safe homes of Commit and Act Foundation, a non-governmental organization.
He added that the longest period to serve in a safe home considering the facility is one month. After which the child may go back to her community if she so desires but that, he said, will not be done in the absence of the community stakeholders and the parents. According to him the other option will be to permanently relocate the child to another community within Tonkolili where she will be safe.
The Head of the Family Support Unit, Superintendent Fatmata Dabor Kamara told Politico that the alleged rape of the girl occurred on the December 17th 2020 but that it was not reported until the child was brought to the hospital and that it was the medical doctor who informed the police.
She added that investigations were ongoing but that the alleged perpetrator is on the runs.
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