Key meeting on Malala’s treatment today

The Express Tribune

Though she remains far from a complete recovery, Malala Yousafzai’s condition showed some improvement on Saturday, according to her doctors and family members. Military sources stationed at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) said doctors treating the 14-year-old activist were hopeful after she showed response to pain. They quoted the head surgeon as saying this heralded recovery for someone on ventilator support. More than 31 hours have passed since doctors announced that the next 48 hours would be critical for Malala’s life. She remains confined to the ventilator, but military sources said her condition and vital signs remain satisfactory. The final decision to remove her from the ventilator and shift her to Germany for treatment will be taken on Sunday morning (today) in a high-level meeting to discuss her latest test reports, according to the sources. After Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban, the surgeons operating on her had expressed fear of possible brain damage. However, all of her medical reports came out clear. Earlier, doctors had said she had a 70% chance of survival. Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa also confirmed to the media that Malala is showing signs of improvement since Saturday. Talking to The Express Tribune, her brother Mehmud, too, said that, while she is still unconscious due to heavy medication intended to relieve her from severe pain, her responses showed some improvement.