Burnt Chinese boy

A Chinese child who is trapped behind a mask of scar tissue after a fire burned his face and hands is to get the first of a dozen operations to try to restore some of its features.

Wang Xiaopeng has an almost featureless face after the terrible accident two years ago. His parents spent all their savings and borrowed to pay three months of treatment, but can not afford to pay for any surgery.

In response a special appeal has been created by the British charity Journalism Without Borders, who will make sure donations will go to the youth's medical expenses. 

The five-year-old has been, without hair, lips, eyelids, hands and feet, since the accident in November 2010. He burnt into flames after he accidentally set fire to some corn stalks near his home in Yinchuan in Ningxia province, China.

His parents took him to Ningxia Medical University General Hospital, where he managed to get by. However, he was defaced and the couple could only afford to pay three months of treatment for their beloved son.

They spent all their savings and sold their house and land to cover the bill of 150,000 yuan - equivalent to around £15,000. They now live in a small plot of 0.2 hectares.

His father, Wang Yougiu, 32, earns just 200 pounds (2,000 yuan) a month as a milk producer, while her mother Zhengwei Xiu, 30, is a housewife.

Xiaopeng injuries make it difficult for him to see, while all the fingers were amputated from the second joint.

Not going to school, because schools will not admit it, and he has only a few friends who have become accustomed to his appearance.

Now, finally some good news for the child after Journalism Without Borders established a resource to pay for  his care.

A reporter for the British charity Journalism Without Borders, said: "This is the best season we've had, with thousands of people giving small but significant amounts.

"The money is paid directly to the hospital. We also want to help him with a teacher, so he can start again at his school that fits around his appointments.

Doctor Li Jinning, Ningxia Medical University Hospital, said Xiaopeng need a minimum of three surgeries to have a less "human" look and probably much more to do a good job.

Yougui father said: "Summer was always the worst for him, the heat causes painful burns and actually suffers from mosquitoes, but his greatest wish is to someday go to school like other children. That is why we want to him to study now to have the basics if the operations are going well. "

Although a communist country, China does not have a cradle to grave, free-at the point of use of the health system. Instead about half of the population to buy basic health insurance, which covers half the cost of their health care. The rest is paid by patients or their health insurer.

However, this leaves the poorest in China difficulty meeting medical bills for serious illness such as Xiaopeng.

Mail Online