Brave schoolgirl leaves hospital
London – A 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban for promoting girls’ education has been discharged from an English hospital to live with her family, doctors said today.
Photographs and a video released by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham showed Malala Yousufzai hugging nurses, waving and smiling shyly.
Her steps seemed tentative as she walked down the hospital corridor while talking with nurses, the injured side of her face deftly turned away from the lenses. But hospital officials say she is strong and recovering well.
Malala will live with her parents and two brothers in Britain while she continues to receive treatment. She will return to hospital during the next month for another round of surgery to rebuild her skull.
Experts have been optimistic that Malala, who was airlifted from Pakistan in October to receive specialised medical care, has a good chance of recovery.
‘‘Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery,’’ said Dr Dave Rosser, the medical director for University Hospitals Birmingham.
‘‘Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, we decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers.’’
The Taliban targeted Malala because of her relentless objection to the group’s regressive interpretation of Islam, which limits girls’ access to education. She was returning home from school in Pakistan’s Swat Valley on October 9 when the militants shot her.
Her case won worldwide recognition, and she became a symbol for the struggle for women’s rights in Pakistan. In an indication of her reach, she made the shortlist for Time magazine’s ‘‘Person of the Year’’ for 2012.
Pakistani doctors removed a bullet that entered her head and headed toward her spine.
The decision to send Malala to Britain was taken in consultation with her family. Pakistan is paying for her treatment.
Pakistan has appointed Malala’s father, Ziauddin, as its education attache in Birmingham. The position, with an initial three-year commitment, virtually guarantees that Malala will remain in Britain for now.
In Malala’s home town of Mingora, family and friends were excited to hear of her discharge from the hospital. Many hope she will eventually be well enough to return home.
A cousin said that while the news of her discharge was cause for joy, fears remained for her safety.
‘‘I would say the real happy day will be when we all get confidence that there would be no threat of attack on any Malala of the country in the future,’’ said Azizul Hasan, 30.
The militants have threatened to target Malala again because they say she promotes ‘‘Western thinking.’’
Two girls injured in the same attack received police escorts once they were well enough to return to school. They have said they took courage from her. ‘‘Malala was very brave and she was always friendly with everyone,’’ Kainat Riaz, 16, said in November. ‘‘We are proud of her.’’