Amhara, Ethiopia – The story of a 12-year-old Ethiopian boy has sparked widespread sympathy and admiration. He took his sick chicken to a local hospital seeking treatment, a scene that has gone viral on social media.
Marcus Abaye, who lives in the Amhara region of Ethiopia,
noticed his beloved chicken’s deteriorating health and its unresponsiveness to home remedies.
Believing the doctors there could help, he decided to take it to the nearest hospital.
Unexpected visit to the hospital
A video filmed by nurse Omar Chani inside Dembecha Primary Hospital shows
a child anxiously cradling a chicken and explaining that the bird was having difficulty breathing.
The nurse explained to the child that the hospital was for human patients and that he should take the chicken to a veterinarian.
The chicken was then taken to a veterinary clinic where
it received the necessary treatment and its health improved.
The video has garnered over 770,000 views on TikTok, with widespread praise
for the child’s actions and his concern for his pet.
An exceptional relationship with the chicken
The boy’s uncle and guardian, Kilmowork Amogeni, said that Marcus has a very special bond with the hen.
So much so, in fact, that he stopped eating and focusing on his studies after she fell ill.
He added that the boy constantly watches her movements and is remarkably attentive to her safety.
In fact, he sometimes builds small bridges over holes so she doesn’t get hurt while walking.
He noted that the hen was a gift Marcus received from his grandparents when he moved to live with his uncle in 2023.
This move was prompted by the security unrest in the Amhara region.
Widespread support after the story spread
Marcus confirmed that his hen has now recovered and that he intends to give her the 12 eggs he had been saving so she can incubate them.
The story went viral in Ethiopia, prompting a local poultry company to offer the boy 100 chickens.
Furthermore, he was provided with specialized poultry farming training in recognition of his love for animals and his dedication to their care.
Many considered Marcus’s actions to be a testament to compassion and kindness towards animals.
They saw it as a remarkable display of humanity in a child who transformed a simple situation into a story that has inspired thousands.
