Non-governmental organisation Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) is seeking the public’s help in raising funds for a 10-year-old boy, who was burnt about his body during a recent incident at his West Coast Demerara (WCD) home.
Jomahri Mortley is currently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) nursing second degree burns to more than 50% of his body.
He was burned on October 28 at his Den Amstel, WCD home.
SHEA’s local representative, Sita Sugrim, yesterday told Sunday Stabroek that Mortley and his mother were doing his homework together and the woman fell asleep.
She said Mortley ventured into the living room of the house and lit a bottle of sanitizer, causing it to explode.
According to Sugrim, the child’s mother related that she was awakened by his screams for help. When the woman rushed out of the bedroom, she saw Mortley’s lower body on fire.
In an effort to put out of the fire, Sugrim said Mortley’s mother rolled him on the floor but this was of little help since the floor was covered in tiles. She then rushed him into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Mortley was subsequently rushed to the hospital, where he remains a patient.
SHEA, in a recent Facebook post, said Mortley needs to be treated urgently. However, the advanced treatment and technology needed to save his life is not available in Guyana. As a result, the organisation is making an urgent request for funds so that Mortley can seek emergency medical assistance overseas.
Sugrim told Sunday Stabroek that the cost to medevac Mortley to the United States (US) for treatment is US$15,000, which is equivalent to $3.2 million.
The sum includes cost for the emergency surgery, accommodation and travel expenses.
Sugrim explained that Mortley was already accepted in a hospital in the US and he is scheduled to depart Guyana on Monday. However, funds are still needed for the surgery.
Anyone willing to assist Mortley can visit https://bit.ly/3GU1TrT or contact SHEA via Facebook.
Donations can also be made to Demerara Bank account #006002041325.
