16-10-2024 (JAKARTA) A domestic helper in Surabaya, East Java, has been apprehended by local authorities for surreptitiously administering steroids to her employer’s two-year-old child. The incident, which came to light recently, has sparked widespread concern and debate about child safety and the responsibilities of domestic workers.
The helper, whose identity remains undisclosed, confessed to police that she had been covertly giving the toddler medication with the misguided intention of making the child “white and fat”. This disturbing revelation has left many questioning the motives behind such actions and the potential consequences for the child’s health.
The mother’s suspicions were first aroused when she noticed coloured powders appearing frequently in her child’s water cup. Upon investigation, she discovered that these substances were, in fact, steroids and other weight-gain promoting drugs. Medical experts confirmed that these adult-formulated medications were entirely unsuitable for children, prompting the mother to immediately alert the authorities.
According to social media posts by the employer, the maid is alleged to have been administering these drugs to the young girl for up to a year. Initially reluctant to admit her wrongdoing, the domestic helper eventually confessed to the police. She claimed to have no medical background and insisted that she only gave the child medication when the toddler refused to eat, emphasising that it was “no more than once a day”.
The use of steroids, which are controlled substances requiring a doctor’s prescription, can lead to serious side effects, particularly in young children. Prolonged use or high doses can result in weight gain, facial swelling, and other potentially harmful health issues.
