Girl was 'hit in the face' by a friend with a shovel while living at a shelter in Thu Duc

A 12-year-old girl living at the Angel Children’s Shelter (HCMC) was hospitalized with an 8cm long facial wound, accompanied by multiple seizures. Notably, the facility was unable to extract the camera and has not been licensed to operate again for a long time due to lack of qualifications.

A 12-year-old girl living in a shelter in Thu Duc City (HCMC) was hospitalized at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital due to a long wound on her face, accompanied by convulsions - Photo: XUAN MAI

Tuoi Tre Online source said that the girl TKB (12 years old, living at the Angel Children's Shelter, also known as the Angel Shelter, located in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) had to be hospitalized at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital with an 8cm long wound on her face caused by a person living with her hitting her with a shovel.

On June 3, speaking with Tuoi Tre Online, Mr. Nguyen Tang Minh - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health (in charge of social protection, child care and protection, and social evil prevention) - confirmed that there was a case of a 12-year-old girl living at the Angel Shelter who suffered facial injuries and had to be hospitalized for treatment.

The initial cause was determined to be that baby B. was "hit in the face with a shovel by a boy living in the same shelter." After being beaten, the baby was taken to a local hospital for first aid, then transferred to Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital.

Mr. Tang Minh added that the Angel Shelter was established in 2010. Initially, this shelter had an operating license, but due to insufficient conditions (facilities, care staff, cleaning staff...), it was not re-licensed for a long time.

Notably, when the authorities arrived, the camera system could not extract images, and the storage drive was damaged, making the investigation difficult.

"The main responsibility lies with the local authorities in licensing, inspecting and evaluating the operation of the shelter. The Department of Health is requesting a re-inspection to have a basis to further assess the severity of the incident," Mr. Minh affirmed.

A representative of Long Truong Ward Police (Thu Duc City) also confirmed that a girl at the Thien Than shelter suffered facial injuries and was hospitalized.

Initially, the police recorded statements from the injured person and the owner of the facility that the girl was "playing around" with another child, leading to the injury. The police are currently continuing to verify and clarify the incident.

Dr. Nguyen Van Sang - Deputy Head of the Department of Neurology at Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital - said that on May 27, the hospital received a child patient with TKB who was having multiple seizures and had an 8cm long wound that had been stitched at a lower level facility.

After an initial assessment, the baby was transferred to the hospital's pediatric department. However, the baby later had several seizures and was transferred to the neurology department.

Doctors took the baby's cerebrospinal fluid for testing and the results were normal, no virus or abnormalities reflecting the current encephalitis. The baby is currently alert and responsive but still has occasional seizures.

At the hospital, B. said that a friend living in the shelter hit him in the face with a shovel, causing a long, deep wound on his left cheek, causing a lot of bleeding and pain.

A resident living near the shelter took the baby to a lower level hospital to have his wound stitched before admitting him to Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital for treatment.

"The two children were not playing together, so the friend suddenly used a shovel to hit me," B. recounted.

XUAN MAI - MINH HOA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/be-gai-bi-ban-dung-xeng-danh-vao-mat-khi-song-tai-mai-am-o-thu-duc-20250601065640212.htm