Arua police stuck with a two days old baby abandoned by teenage mother

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Child and Family Protection Unit of Arua central police are stuck with a two days’ old baby girl who was abandoned by the mother.

The now at large teenage girl delivered the bouncing baby girl at 9am on Monday at the hospital labor suit and left her on the bed ostensibly to go and buy some soda but never returned.

According to reports from the hospital, a Priest who was from praying at the hospital Chapel found this young mother in pain near the hospital chapel and decided to help take her to the maternity ward for attention.

Within 20 minutes, she immediately went into labour before her full details were captured and gave birth to a baby girl.

The young mother who was found alone with no helper and baby clothes told one of the midwives to help keep eye on the child as she went to by some soda since she was hungry at a nearby Kiosk but did not return.

The midwife who was looking after the child waited for over four hours and decided to notify other colleagues who made a search within the hospital but couldn’t locate the mother, forcing them to alert the police for help.

Gertrude Orodriyo, a female officer attached to the Child and Family Protection Unit at Arua CPS who picked up the child said they are now stuck with how to take care of the baby.

Jimmy Anguyo, the head of Child and Family Protection Unit W. Nile said police has launched a search for the mother and the father of the baby and if found will be charged with child neglect.

Anguyo also appeals to the communities to keep a close eye on the teenage mothers and offer counselling to them to desist from such inhuman practices.

According to police, cases of child abandonment are likely to rise as schools continue to remain closed and the girl child is not given particular attention to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

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