A 25-year-old mother is accused of abandoning her 1-dayold baby boy just a few hours after giving birth to him. The incident occurred on Thursday, 09 January, at Hillbrow Community Health Centre where the infant was discoveredby a security guard.
“I was on my way to the Maternal Obstetric Unit to relieve my colleague. I heard people who reside in some flats metres away from the clinic shouting and screaming. I went to enquire about what they were shouting and screaming at. Before I even arrived at the gate, where the commotion was happening, I found a newly born baby. I then checked if the child was still alive or not. I noticed that he was still alive, and I took him to the clinic,” said Winnie Mthethwa, Security Guard at Hillbrow CHC.
At the clinic, a Nurse further checked the well-being of the baby and found that he was in a good condition. “After we received the baby from the security guard, we went through our records with an aim to link the baby to his mother. We noticed that the mother came to the clinic in labour on Wednesday, 08 January and she delivered a few hours later. After her condition and the baby were found to be in good state she was discharged the next day,” said Midwife,Phumzile Zwane.
Hillbrow South African Police Services were called and informed about the incident. Sargent Mduduzi Zondo confirmed that a case was opened at the police station. “A case of child abandonment was opened at Hillbrow police station. As a procedure the baby was taken to a place of safety where he will be kept until further notice.”
The Chief Director for Johannesburg Health District, Mogeru Morewane urged people to take a more humane approach when dealing with unexpected and unwanted pregnancies.
“People must know that there are organisations out there that can help through the process. Please do not end the life of an innocent child, but rather seek help,” she appealed.
