Shocking image shows emaciated boy, 4, in hospital after he was ‘almost starved to death by his parents’
The boy was moved to hospital after paramedics raised the alarm following a visit to his family home
THIS is the shocking image that shows a four-year-old boy hospitalised after he was 'almost starved to death by his parents', it's claimed.
Little Vladik Molchenko was rescued by social workers in the small town of Novoukrainka, in the Kirovohrad Oblast region in central Ukraine.
The picture shows Vladik lying on the table in a local hospital while eating a slice of bread.
A social service worker who took the boy from his parents said: "When we entered the Molchenko family's house, we saw Vladik lying in his bed. The child's body and face were covered with his own faeces.
"He was so skinny that although you see a lot in this job, my heart just broke as I looked at him. On our way to hospital he begged us to give him at least a slice of bread and some water.
"In the hospital he saw a plate in a nurse's hands and started screaming hysterically, thinking food might be on it. I'm scared to know for how long he has been suffering from hunger."
Vladik was diagnosed with severe malnutrition, and doctors have said he weighed just 7kg instead of the expected 16 kg which is typical for his age.
A hospital spokesperson said: "The boy underwent medical examination. He is receiving all the medical care he needs. His health condition is serious but not a life-threatening one. He will physically get better soon."
Paramedics were concerned for Vladik's condition after visiting the home to check on his ten month old baby sister.
When the paramedics saw the boy, they told his parents that the child should be taken to hospital.
But the boy's father, Aleksandr Molchenko, told that his son fell ill because of "experiments" performed on him in the local hospital.
He said: "I repeatedly told doctors, the doctors ignored me constantly. The last year I noticed [Vladik] began to lose weight.
"I believe that this is the consequence of experiments nurses carried out in this hospital," he said.
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The paramedics reported the case to social services, who tried to check on the child but were refused access by his parents.
Social services made an application to the court, who gave them permission to enter the Molchenko's home and hospitalise him if needed.
Police have subsequently opened a criminal case against Aleksandr Molchenko and his wife.
A police spokesperson said: "The parents are charged with deliberate and malicious failure to fulfil childcare responsibilities. Also, the court will consider the issue of depriving the suspects of their parental rights."
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