ISLAMABAD: Because he did not receive proper treatment, an 18-year-old acid attack victim may lose his eyes.

On May 28, Mohammad Waqas had a fight with his cousin during which his cousin`s sister threw acid on his face and chest.

Waqas was taken to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Mianwali where he was only given first aid.

`The hospital administration then told us that since they lacked proper facilities, Waqas should be taken to a hospital in Rawalpindi,` one of Waqas` relatives, Arfan Niazi, told Dawn.

`We then took Waqas to a hospital in Rawalpindi where the doctors, after treating him, said he was out of danger and should rest at home,` Mr Niazi said.

Waqas was then taken to the house of a relative in Rawalpindi where his pain started increasing and his wounds became infected.

`Disappointed by the attitude of the doctors at the hospital in Rawalpindi, we decided to take Waqas to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims). However, we were told that patients with old burn injuries were not accepted at Pims as there was a chance of their infections spreading to other patients,` Mr Niazi said.

After trying to involve the media in the matter and speaking to several doctors, Waqas was admitted to Pims burns centre where his pain has not yet gone away and he is at risk of losing his eyes.

An official at the burn centre said Waqas had burns to 10pc of his body which meant that his life was not in danger.

However, because some of the acid went into his eyes, it remains to be determined if his eyes can be saved.

When asked about their initial refusal to admit Waqas into the burn centre, the official said that patients with old burn injuries pose a risl< as their infections can spread to other patients.

Though the country`s leaders get treated from hospitals abroad, there are no arrangements for the people of Pakistan in the country, Arfan Niazi said.

`The hospitalin Mianwali and Rawalpindi were not equipped to treat Waqas while the doctors in Islamabad were reluctant to treat him. The government should look into the matter and ensure that people have access to quality health care,` he added.