If mere visualisation of a kid trapped in a fire or getting electrocuted is enough to run a cold shudder through most of us, for children surviving burn scars can be a traumatic upheaval.
Eleven of 21 children being treated at KEM Hospital for burns sat in rapt attention as their lives unfolded on a screen on Saturday. The department of plastic surgery at the hospital screened 'Silent Screams,' and 'Camp Diaries,' – two 45-minute films each on the 21 burn survivors.
Each of the victims has undergone multiple surgeries to restore his/her skin and mostly debilitated limbs that had fused with the body due to the nature of their accidents.
Nipu Gupta, 8, from Uttar Pradesh fell into a container of hot water when he was only two. "My parents brought me to Mumbai for treatment. Now I go to school just like any other kid," lisped Nipu.
For 10-year-old Bhairavi, playing with fire cost her dear. The cute little girl just wanted to make some rotis. "When I tried to restart the diminishing flame on the stove, it exploded and burnt my neck and torso."
Yogesh Joshi, then a nine-month-old toddler, of Nemgaon Village from Aurangabad district sustained serious burns after a stove burst near his face. "I was told I was crawling behind my mother when flames struck me. Though my face was disfigured, I am gaining confidence with the treatment. The doctors are trying to restore my hand functions," said Yogesh, now 15.
Written, directed and produced by Mudassar Mashalkar, Silent Screams revolves around Yogesh's life. "We plan to raise awareness by sending the documentary to film festivals like Cannes and Toronto. To live with scars forever is beyond a normal person's imagination. They are real life heroes," said Mashalkar.
Up to 70 lakh people suffer burns in India every year, of which 70% are women and children, said Dr Vinita Puri, head of department, KEM Hospital.
Meanwhile, the BMC's health department is also working out on a proposal to set up a dedicated burns hospital on the premises of Kasturba Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Chinchpokli.
"The proposed facility will have a team of plastic surgeons, therapists, social workers and psychiatrists to specifically deal with burns cases," said Dr Suhasini Nagda, director, medical education, BMC.
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