In response to the tragic and all-too-common occurrence of baby abandonment, Impilo Child Protection and Adoption Services launched an initiative on June 28 to provide immediate care for these vulnerable infants.
The organisation launched the Abandoned Baby Rescue Kits project to equip first responders with essential resources to care for abandoned babies.
The kits are designed to address the immediate needs of abandoned infants, ensuring they receive crucial care and comfort while facilitating the vital collection of information to aid in their subsequent protection and support.
ALSO READ: Parktown Girls High School joins Slipper Day to help children in need
The organisation’s fundraiser Arlene Zlotnick explained, “Our Abandoned Baby Rescue Kits are a crucial tool for first responders such as police, security personnel, and community members, who often encounter abandoned babies but lack the resources to provide immediate care. These kits offer essential supplies to keep the baby warm and hydrated and a structured way to gather important information for ongoing child protection efforts.”
The kit is made up of nappies, wipes, soap, bum cream, cotton buds, a facecloth, Babygro, a blanket, a pair of socks, Vaseline, a beanie, a bottle, formula, a plastic bag for an umbilical cord, as well as surgical spirits.
ALSO READ: Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital stresses the importance of children’s rights
The kit contains a basic form for the responding individual to complete. It captures essential details that can aid social workers in their investigations and ensure a seamless handover of the baby to the appropriate child protection agency or hospital.
The initiative was made possible through the generous contributions of community members, who donated all items included in the kits. Impilo acknowledges and appreciates the community’s support in this life-saving project.
To ensure the effectiveness of the kits, Impilo will collaborate with local law enforcement, security companies, and community groups, providing them with training and the necessary supplies to respond promptly and compassionately to incidents of baby abandonment.
“We believe that every baby deserves a chance at a safe and nurturing life, and our Abandoned Baby Rescue Kits are a step toward achieving that goal,” noted Zlotnick.
ALSO READ: Miss World and six continental queens spread joy at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
