Dustbin baby death raises public alarm
There are options available if young women and mothers do not want to keep their babies
A BABY boy, found dead in a dustbin last week in a Richards Bay complex housing university students and college goers, has sparked concern and a public outcry.
The lifeless body of the newborn was wrapped in a sheet while the placenta was placed in plastic and disposed of in the same bin. According to statistics, about 3500 children are abandoned in South Africa annually.
Richards Bay SAPS Communication Officer, Debbie Ferreira said there are options available if young women and mothers do not want to keep their babies.
‘We encourage these women to visit local counselling providers or the trauma rooms at police stations where they can receive counselling, assistance and a way forward to ensure the baby’s safety and well-being.
‘Foster care, places of safety and adoption are some options.’
LifeLine Zululand Director Michelle Jewlal said that despite deeply felt beliefs, research has indicated that while abandonment affects individuals, it is often as a result of wider socio-economic factors.
‘We have to go to the root cause of the problem and look at what can be done to ensure women do not find themselves in such circumstances.
‘We have to look at why the baby was abandoned, and have to address the underlying concerns that could be culture, society, religion and socio-economic factors which lead them to committing such an act.
‘Education and awareness are key to youngsters making informed lifestyle decisions, and LifeLine has rolled out a Sexual Reproductive Health Programme at schools to assist the youth to make correct choices.’
