Baby dies due to severe maggot infestation

Accra, June 27, GNA - The two-month-old baby boy, who was dumped into a pit latrine by an unemployed mother at Asamankase in the Eastern Regional has died as a result of severe maggot infestation in the abdomen.

Mrs Emma Boafo Yeboah, mother of the Bawjiase Orphanage, where the baby was sent after his rescue by some residents, who heard the cry of the child, told GNA on Tuesday that the child was rushed to a clinic at Bawjiase where he was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital due to his critical condition.

She said upon arrival, the baby vomited and eased a lot of maggots and died after four days of intensive medical care. Meanwhile, the 20-year unemployed mother, who allegedly dumped the baby into the pit latrine, has been arraigned at the Asamankase Circuit Court.

Nafisa Issaka, who pleaded guilty to a charge of exposing a child to harm, was granted a 50 million cedis bail with one surety to re-appear on July 26.

Police Chief Inspector Joseph Idan told the Court presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah that Nafisa, who lived with her parents at Ekoso, a village near Asamankese, gave birth to a baby boy about two months ago. He said the husband of the accused died a few months before she gave birth to the boy and Nafisa's parents were looking after her. On June 3, while Nafisa's mother had travelled to Accra, the accused took the baby to a public toilet, dumped him into the pit and went into hiding.

Inspector Idan said some residents of the town heard the baby crying and went to pick the child and sent him to the Bawjiase Orphanage.