Second chance for abandoned babies
A baby saver is a unit with an alarm system where one can safely and anonymously relinquish a baby rather than dumping it.
For most parents, their child’s birth is one of the most joyous events to be experienced. It’s a time of adaptation and exploration of newfound love. For many mothers, however, the feeling of excitement and hope is replaced with fear of financial struggles, social stigmas and an impeding loss of security.
Knowing that not all mothers have the resources to raise a child, Just in Time Baby Sanctuary founder, Georgina Caetano has dreamed of launching a ‘Baby Saver’ since the establishment of the haven five years ago. A baby saver is a unit with an alarm system where one can safely and anonymously relinquish a baby rather than dumping it.
On Saturday, August 28 her dream finally came true when her sanctuary became the first in both Roodepoort and Krugersdorp to have one of these bins installed.
“Most underprivileged pregnant women get judged, shunned and forced to do things they don’t want to do. These women don’t always have the means to take care of a little baby. That is what the baby saver is for. It does not encourage abandonment, but rather offers a safe alternative to abandonment and should only be used as a last resort. Unsafe abandonment should never be an option,” Georgina said.
This metal container is secured with an infrared beam and a silent alarm which will telephonically notify Georgina, a caregiver and the relevant security control room. The security room will then dispatch the necessary medical services to make sure the baby is healthy. Georgina and her team will then keep the baby safe and warm, and report the delivery to both the police and the Roodepoort Child Welfare.
“This has been a dream of mine since I started the sanctuary. I am now very proud to be associated with Baby Savers SA – a coalition of organisations, NPOs and PBOs that provide a safe alternative to unsafe baby abandonment through the use of a baby saver. This baby saver is now one of only 20 in the country,” she said.
The baby sanctuary is located at 70 Kliprand Street in Discovery, and is a relatively central location for most communities in and around Roodepoort.
“We would like to thank Nicky from the Akunika Foundation for donating the baby box, as well as Gideon Hoffman for installing it free of charge. This wouldn’t have been possible without their support. If this box could only save one life, then I have reached my goal,” she concluded.
