JP\/5\/ANAK<\/p>\n
Aceh child refugee suffers from hydrocephalus<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nAceh Besar, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam<\/p>\n
Two-year-old Dwi Herliani was crying, her small hands reaching
\nout for her mother sitting next to her. Her mother, Maira, 23,
\nplaced a bottle filled with plain water in Dwi's mouth and she
\nimmediately fell silent.<\/p>\n
Dwi is totally reliant on her mother. Her body is considered
\nsmall for her age, but her head is about as big as an adult's.
\nDwi is also not as lively as other children her age. She just
\nlies on her small bed in a barrack for displaced persons in Labui
\nvillage, Aceh Besar.<\/p>\n
\"The doctors say that Dwi is suffering from hydrocephalus,\"
\nMaira told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
According to doctors, the disease is the result of the
\nclogging of the cerebrospinal fluid to the brain, which causes
\nthe depression of the cranium and eventually leads to enlargement
\nof the head.<\/p>\n
Dwi has suffered from the disease since she was four months
\nold. Without any money, it was a struggle for Maira to
\nget her daughter treated at Zainal Abidin General Hospital in
\nBanda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Dwi has undergone three surgeries to her head, nose and
\nstomach. However, despite the surgeries her condition has
\ncontinued to worsen. Her heads grows bigger and the tears never
\nstop running from her eyes.<\/p>\n
\"It makes me sad to look at Dwi,\" said Maira.<\/p>\n
Maira had managed to save Rp 4 million (about US$420) in a
\nplastic yellow piggy bank to pay for more treatments for Dwi,
\nwhen the tsunami swept across Aceh on Dec. 26. Maira's small
\nhouse and her money were lost in the disaster.<\/p>\n
\"Just to be still alive is already a gift from God,\" said
\nMaira.<\/p>\n
After moving from one refugee camp to another, Maira, her
\nmother and her two children finally found a place to stay in the
\nbarrack in Labui village.<\/p>\n
Though there were dozens of foreign non-governmental
\norganizations providing medical aid in Aceh after the tsunami,
\nnone provided Maira and her family assistance or nutritious food.
\nDwi was examined by a doctor from the Muhammadiyah organization,
\nwho referred her to a hospital.<\/p>\n
\"I only give Dwi plain water if there is no milk. Dwi seldom
\ncries, except when she is not feeling well,\" said Maira.<\/p>\n
Maira said all she could do was accept her fate. She has not
\ntaken Dwi to the hospital since the tsunami because she is tired
\nof being turned away.<\/p>\n
\"Every hospital has refused to treat Dwi, so if she is sick I
\nwill treat her myself,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Maira works as a brick maker. She earns Rp 30,000 for every
\n1,000 bricks she produces. Having to spend so much time caring
\nfor Dwi, she is only able to earn about Rp 7,500 a day.<\/p>\n
\"I have to take care of Dwi,\" said Maira, whose husband left
\nher for another woman when she was pregnant with Dwi.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5anak-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}