“No child’s pain should go unnoticed” — helping Omar play again

Above: Omar has returned to playing with his friends as his broken arm continues to heal after receiving treatment. Photo: Samaiya Nabila/Save the Children

In a sprawling Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, Omar*, a young boy with a fervent passion for football and badminton, often finds himself nursing injuries sustained in the heat of play.

For Omar, sports are an escape from the harsh realities of camp life, though this escape can come at a cost.

"Playing is my escape, but sometimes the pain follows me home," Omar confides after a long day on the field.

Omar lives in a bustling household of eight. His mother is often overwhelmed with the daily grind of life and her own health challenges, and his father works tirelessly outside the camp. Omar's injuries sometimes go unnoticed.

"There's so much to do and never enough time or health to manage it all," his mother says regretfully.

Omar's elder sister Kshema* was recently told by fellow children's club members that Omar had a serious injury. Seeing Omar's hand clumsily bandaged and knowing her family's reliance on traditional remedies, Kshema started to worry.

"We thought it would heal on its own, but I see we were wrong," she said, her concern palpable.

Nabila, a committed Save the Children child protection worker, found out about the injury and quickly understood the severity.

"Every child deserves the chance to play without fear of untreated injuries," Nabila said.

Thanks to Nabila's efforts, Omar and his mother received the urgent medical attention they needed. A health worker uncovered the true extent of Omar's injury—a severely broken arm worsened by delayed care.

"Will I ever play badminton again?" Omar asked after receiving treatment, with a mix of fear and hope.

Nabila, touched by his worry, offered reassurance, "You'll be back on the field before you know it, stronger than ever. But first, we must focus on your healing."

The immediate medical care brought comfort to Omar's family, who have faced more than their fair share of struggles since leaving Myanmar. Omar’s mother, touched by the support, shared her heartache at the daily decisions she had to make when there was never enough to go around.

"Who will I explain to the pain of giving birth to so many children and not being able to feed them properly? I'm trying my best, but it's never enough."

Through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership response in Bangladesh, organisations like Save the Children are carrying out vital work to support the displaced Rohingya population in Bangladesh, with the support of the Australian Government. Save the Children is leading four local partners [Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Partners in Health and Development (PHD), Centre for Disability in Development (CDD) and Bandhu Social Welfare Society (Bandhu)] to respond on health, education, child protection and disaster risk reduction to protect vulnerable children.

"This is what we're here for – to ensure no child's pain goes unnoticed," Nabila states firmly.

Omar's path from injury to recovery is a stark reminder of the importance of timely care and intervention, and health care access for all. "How much pain my son endured today because of my mistake. I could not understand how much pain my son was going through for 15 long days," reflected Omar's mother, her words echoing the silent daily battles many face within the camp.

*names changed

Story: Rashna Sharmin Keya, Save the Children Bangladesh