Last week , the police brought a newborn baby to Amecet. This baby was rescued from a pit latrine. A pit latrine is a toilet, it is a deep pit, with a small building build on it. The baby was found around 5am, but it took some hours to break the little building to get the baby out. The baby was rushed to the hospital, where the first aid was given, cleaned and the baby was brought to Amecet.. The baby had been thrown into the pit, together with the placenta, in the hospital they had cut the cord. The baby was cold and had problems with breathing. He had all kind of rashes; his eyes were swollen.
Our first reaction was, how could the mother do this?? This is terrible!! The mother was found that same day, she was taken to the police cells, but she had an infection and was brought to the hospital for treatment. Our social workers visited her there and talked with her. She is 19 years old, no husband, her parents had been separated and she didn't belong. Her mother send her away, she had lived with her father, but he was not happy with her. She gave birth alone, outside at 12 midnight and didn't know what else to do than throw the baby in the latrine, out of fear that she would have nowhere to go. She regretted what she had done and felt bad.
Today was special, the mother was out of the hospital, and she came, together with her father, to see her baby.. It was so good to see her sitting with her little boy, there is hope, things can change, people can change, her father was with her and supported her.. The baby will stay still in Amecet, he is not drinking well, we use a NG tube to feed him. The mother has to the police to talk, but there is hope....
That same night, just after midnight, an ambulance came at the door of Amecet, to bring a newborn twin. It took some time to hear the people banging at our gate, but they took them in. They were born in a hospital by a caesarean operation, but the mother had died. So the two little boys were brought to Amecet. They are so cute, but they didn't drink so well. After 2 days feeding by NG tube, they picked up and they do well now.
Their names are Francis and Boniface.
Today, we got a phone call from a Probation officer (child protection unit) from another District. There was a baby of 3 days old, and the mother had a mental problem, the baby was not safe... We told the officer that they could bring the baby. Sometime later again a call, there was a 3 year old sister and no one to care for her, the little girl had a broken arm. We waited some hours and the Probation Officer arrived with the two girls. The mother was very sick, she had given birth by Caesarean operation, was still in hospital she was very sick with meningitis, and the little girl had been her caretaker.. The girl was not 3 years, but around 5 years old. And the baby was not 3 days, but 14 days old. We heard that they had given the baby only Glucose by cannula, this little girl had not drunk any milk!! Her weight was 1.8 kg. The little baby was bathed, and we made a bottle for her, she drank good, and we will feed her every 2 hours, this night. She is very small and tiny, for 2 weeks old. Her sister was given a good meal, and we hope that she will enjoy her stay with us. We will also have to go to the doctor with her and see what is going on with her arm. She told us that children just broke her arm last week, that is all we know.
Our social workers will have to work closely with the Probation Officer, to see if there anybody among the relatives, who wants to care for the 2 girls.
For now, they are safe. Pls. pray also for the mother, who is very sick in the hospital.. The oldest girl is called Prisca, the baby has no name yet..
Life is never boring in Amecet!! Today, we were also waiting for a Probation Officer from, again, another District, to pick up 3 little girls from Amecet. Four months ago they were brought to Amecet, sick and malnourished, but now they are very well, they are walking all three around Amecet and really, our work is done! The Probation Officer is the person now to find their parents and to re-settle them with their relatives. They are quite active now. And it is a joy to see how healthy and strong they are. The Probation Officer didn't come today, but there is again another day tomorrow.
We have now 24 children in our home, lots of work, lots of bottles to give, lots of diapers to wash.... We appreciate your prayers!
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