adverts
A newborn baby girl with a cleft lip has been abandoned by her mother at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, prompting a coordinated effort by health authorities and child-focused organisations to ensure the infant’s survival and wellbeing.
Citi News sources reveal that the mother quietly fled the facility on Friday, November 28, shortly after discovering her baby’s cleft condition. She has not returned since, leaving the infant in the care of hospital staff.
Hospital authorities say efforts are underway to locate the mother. In the meantime, a midwife at the facility has taken responsibility for the baby’s immediate care.
adverts
In a swift humanitarian response, Operation Smile Ghana, a nonprofit that provides free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries, has offered full support for the abandoned child.
Country Director for the organisation, Peter Kwaku Titiati, told Citi News that they are committed to sustaining the child until she is eligible for surgery.
“We have accepted to put the child on our nutritional support until the child attains the right age. If all goes well by the grace of God, the child will be operated on in the first or second quarter of next year.”
Mr Titiati said.
“Ours is to ensure the interest of the child, that he is given adequate support and goes through the reconstructive processes to make sure the mother sees this child and regrets.”
According to the Ministry of Health, over 400 babies are born with cleft conditions in Ghana each year. Despite growing awareness, stigma remains widespread, with some parents hiding their babies and, in extreme cases, abandoning or harming them.
This year alone, 120 children across the Central, Western and Western North regions have received corrective surgeries, a significant boost from humanitarian organisations and health partners.
The Cape Coast Teaching Hospital continues its search for the mother while ensuring the baby receives essential medical and emotional support. Social welfare officials are also expected to join efforts to determine the child’s long-term care options.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
