Sources have confirmed that a 12-year-old boy in rural Ethiopia attempted to admit a feverish chicken to a local hospital, sparking an international response from a British charity. The incident, which unfolded at a clinic in the Amhara region, has been described as “a testament to the child’s character” by officials from Save the Children UK, who have since launched a fund to support similar acts of compassion.
According to documents obtained from the hospital’s admission records, the boy carried the bird, named Birhanu, across six miles of rugged terrain after local veterinary services failed to respond. When he reached the gate, he insisted the chicken be treated for what he described as “the sickness of the lungs.” Staff initially refused, citing a lack of animal facilities. But a paediatric nurse, Amara Tesfaye, intervened. “He was crying. He said, ‘If you don’t help Birhanu, he will die,’” she told investigators.
Save the Children UK, which has a programme in the region, has now committed to underwriting full medical care for Birhanu and providing educational support for the boy. A spokesperson said: “This boy showed more bravery and empathy than most adults. We are proud to stand with him.” The organisation has also set up a micro-donation page, which sources confirm has already reached £12,000.
The money, the charity insists, will go towards a “community animal health initiative” – a line that has raised eyebrows in some quarters. “It’s a heartwarming story, but let’s not forget that this is a region where human healthcare itself is underfunded,” said Dr. Samuel Hailu, a public health researcher at Addis Ababa University. “A chicken? It’s a distraction.”
Internal emails leaked to this reporter suggest the charity’s media team recognised the viral potential of the story early on. One email reads: “This is gold. The boy. The chicken. The hospital. Push it.” Another advises: “Keep the focus on the child’s bravery. Do not comment on broader systemic failures.”
The chicken, meanwhile, is alive and recovering. A veterinarian contracted by the charity has diagnosed “chronic respiratory infection” and prescribed antibiotics. The boy visits daily, feeding Birhanu from his own rations.
But questions remain. Who profited from the viral story? Why did it take a British charity to fund basic veterinary care? And what about the other children in Amhara whose animals – and families – remain sick?
This reporter’s source inside the charity, speaking on condition of anonymity, put it bluntly: “We did a good thing. But we also raised a lot of money on the back of a kid and a chicken. That’s the story they don’t want told.”
