The condition of Akeem Trotman, the malnourished boy found wandering on a city street a few months ago, has taken a drastic turn for the worse and sources at the Georgetown Public Hospital said last night that the seven-year-old was clinging to life.

Last evening when Stabroek News visited Akeem at the ward his condition had visibly worsened and he was being given saline.

Akeem has been in the ward since February and normally walks around the ward. Last night he was confined to his bed and experiencing breathing difficulties.

After the child had been admitted, Stabroek News was told that he had a serious disease but one which could be treated with medication.

Akeem’s state was in stark contrast to his condition two weeks ago when this newspaper had visited him.

On that day Akeem was found in the ward chatting with visitors and on seeing this reporter he quickly came over and said that he was hungry.

He took the reporter to his room and pointed out that someone had left him chicken curry for lunch but he did not like curry.

The reporter then asked the nurse if it was okay to purchase him food and she stated that it was not a wise idea since he was not really hungry and it was only his mind calling for the food. However, Akeem insisted that he wanted boulanger and rice with pepper.

And he ate it all after which he asked the reporter to give him a bath and his wish was granted.

He was left that afternoon playing with the other children.

Akeem was admitted to the hospital after he was brought to this newspaper by a man who had said he had found the child begging on the street.

After he was admitted, the child’s mother in a subsequent interview stated that it was not the first time the child had been admitted to the hospital. She had said her child needed special care and she could not give him this because she was working every day from morning to night and she had other children to support. (Samantha Alleyne)