‘Salima baby is Harlequin Ichthyosis’

Health officials at Salima District Hospital in Central Malawi have described the condition of the baby born with strange features in the district as Harlequin Ichthyosis.

The baby was born to Jamira Manduwa, 23.

District nursing officer, Arthur Champiti, said the case is the first to happen and they had to seek assistance from Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe.

“The main challenge is that the child is not covered with normal skin. Its body has scale-like features and torn.

“It is this challenge, among others, that has forced us to refer it to KCH,” said Champiti.

According to Champiti, records show that out of every one million children born worldwide, there is only one child born in that condition. He said the Salima child is the 100th worldwide and the one who survived with such condition is now 15 years. 

Manduwa gave birth to the child on Wednesday at Lifuwu Health Centre in the district and was referred to Salima District Hospital the same day.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Manduwa said she does not know what went wrong considering that she did not experience any pregnancy-related problems until her labour started.

“My breasts are also failing to produce milk. If the breasts were able to produce milk, I would have found a way of feeding it.  Could people join me in prayers please?” she said.

The child, was among other strange features, born with no eyes, nose, ears and that part of his body, specifically head, is covered with hair.