Bullet ‘hit’ Malala Yousafzai’s brain

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Pakistan child rights activist Malala Yousufzai was still on a ventilator on Saturday with doctors saying 10 percent of her brain has been damaged due to the bullet that hit her on the head.

“She is still on ventilator. The next 24-48 hours are critical for her. She has to gain consciousness,” a military doctor said.

The shooting of 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai, who campaigned for the right to education, has been denounced worldwide and by the Pakistani authorities, who have offered a reward of more than $100,000 for the capture of her attackers.

“The health condition of Malala continues to remain satisfactory. Her vitals are okay and she is still on ventilator,” the military said in an update.

Doctors said that 90% of Malala’s brain is still intact while 10% of it may have been damaged due to continued unconsciousness that could impact brain functioning, if prolonged.

“Time factor is very crucial at this stage. It’s very important that she recovers her senses within the next 48 hours. Prolonged unconsciousness damages myelin covering which is a vital shield in the brain for its protection. It also causes exhaustion in the body organs and gradually hampers their functioning,” a top official at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology said.

“Malala was shot in the temporal region of the brain. The complications or side effects of damage thus caused may result in memory lapse. Let us hope this never happens. Everybody is praying for her life and health. Brain is the power centre of human body. Its components are very delicate and sensitive. Any harm to them brings very negative affects to the entire body,” Dr Waseem Haider said.