Day-old child dumped at refuse site

Binaba (UER), Dec.5, GNA - A day-old baby girl, was found in a black polythene bag dumped at a refuse site at Binaba, near Zebilla in the Bawku West district at dawn last Saturday. Ironically, she was discovered by a 48-year-old divorcee, Madam Felicia Azure, who was divorced because of her inability to have children after 25 years in marriage.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Madam Azure, who described the incident as an "Act of God", said she went to the site to dump refuse at about 0530 hours.

She said her dog followed her to the site and found the black polythene bag and attempted to feed on its contents but the dog could not as the contents moved within it and this prompted her to the bag. Madam Azure when the bag was opened she found the baby girl with her umbilical cord attached and mucus all over her body. She said the baby was taken to the health post for the necessary post-natal care to ensure she survived before informing the chief and elders to trace her mother. Madam Azure said she had consulted a relative and a nursing mother who had unfortunately lost he r child a week ago and had agreed to breastfeed the child.

"If someone did not want the child, I need her and this is an act of God towards me to have a child to give her all my love in spite of my inability to have a child of my own," she added. When the police was contacted it confirmed the story, but no formal complaint had been lodged with it. The police gave the assurance that the case would be investigated to trace the culprit.

This is the third time within the past two months that some women had thrown their newly born babies to the refuse dump, the previous two could not survive.