2-year-old boy accused of being a witch saved by Danish aid worker
PUBLISHED ONFebruary 17, 2016 7:59 AM
A deeply emaciated boy in Nigeria was saved by a Danish aid worker after his family banished him from the household for being a "witch".
The 2-year-old boy named Hope was rescued by Anja Ringgren Loven, who found him living on the streets naked and survived on scraps from passersby, reported CNN.
When Loven found the boy, he was filled with worms and had to have daily blood transfusions to sustain him. He was wandering on the streets for eight months.
Heartwarming pictures of her feeding the boy water and wrapping him in a blanket before taking him to hospital were also posted online on Loven's Facebook account on Jan 31.
Writing in Danish, she said: "Thousands of children are being accused of being witches and we've seen torture of children, dead children and frightened children."
She also appealed for funds to pay for Hope's medical bills in her post.
Jeg har set meget her i Nigeria igennem de sidste 3 år. Jeg har forskånet jer for mange oplevelser når vi har været på...
Posted by DINNødhjælp - deres overlevelse on Sunday, January 31, 2016
Loven is the founder of African Children's Aid Education and Development Foundation, which she created to help children who have been "labelled as witches" and become neglected, tortured or even killed by members of their own community, according to The Independent.
On Feb 12, Loven posted an update on Hope, stating that he was gaining weight and becoming healthier.
"Now we only need him to talk. But that will come naturally when he is out of the hospital and starting his life among all our children. Children become stronger together," she added.
Vi skal være stolte over at være danskere. Vi er et kærligt folkefærd og vi passer godt på hinanden. Vi står altid...
Posted by DINNødhjælp - deres overlevelse on Monday, February 1, 2016
According to CNN, it is a criminal offence in Akwa Ibom state, where Hope was found, to label a child a witch but the practice persists. A report in Daily Mail in Oct last year stated that there were around 50,000 abandoned children living on the streets of Kinshasa, Congo, after being accused of witchcraft.
stephluo@sph.com.sg