Girl with tumor gets medical aid

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: The Abdul Muluk Hospital will lend a helping hand to a 13-year-old village girl with a tumor on her head that has grown larger than the head.

Lasmi, a daughter of a peasant family in northern Lampung, has lived with the tumor since her birth and has never gotten medical help because her parents are too poor to send her to a doctor.

Chief of the Lampung health office A. Sofyan A.T. told Antara that the management of the plush Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta has also offered to help Lasmi.

"I think it would be better to give a chance to the Lampung hospital to see if it can handle the affair," he said.

Meanwhile, medical director of Pondok Indah Hospital, Siswanto, will visit Abdul Muluk Hospital in a few days to check on Lasmi's condition.

He said he was moved to help Lasmi after reading a newspaper report last week. The Pondok Indah Hospital has doctors ready to help Lasmi in case the Lampung hospital cannot handle her, he added. (pan)