Increasing number of abandoned babies in hospitals
JOBURG – Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu believes that family planning is key in avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu released shocking figures where 374 new born babies have been abandoned in Gauteng hospitals in the last three years.
According to Mahlangu, 147 babies were abandoned in Gauteng hospitals in 2013, while 124 babies were abandoned in 2014 and 108 babies from January to September this year. On average, every month in Gauteng, about 11 babies are abandoned.
Mahlangu pleaded with residents to make use of contraceptives to avoid unwanted pregnancies and consider family planning when they intend to engage in the reproductive process.
“In order to address this we ensure that parents are identified and contact details are confirmed when they present for child birth. We conduct ongoing educational talks on contraceptives and choice of termination in our communities,” she said.
Mahlangu listed some of the reasons for child abandonment, including unwanted pregnancies, financial constraints due to unemployment, lack of family support, children deserted by fathers and teenage pregnancies.
Hospitals that are affected by this epidemic include Lerathong Hospital – which is worst affected with 100 babies abandoned in the three years, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (30), Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (17) and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (25) Johannesburg hospital.
The cost of taking care of abandoned babies costs the department around R2 000 a day which is the general amount the department spends on child patients.
Other hospitals where babies are abandoned include Far East Rand Hospital (47), Tembisa Hospital (19), Tshwane District (11) and Thelle Mogoerane (11).
The hospitals’ social workers work together with a number of organisations and the Department of Social Development in order to place babies in homes and adoption agencies.
“We refer expecting mothers to social workers to discuss alternative options in case they do not want to keep the baby,” said Mahlangu.
DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom said it is very sad that so many mothers feel the need to abandon their babies. “Prevention efforts should be broad-based and tackle the societal problems that break the natural bond between mother and infant,” Bloom said.
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