KWSG receives abandoned baby, reiterates commitment to protecting OVC
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has received a newborn who was abandoned by her mother and brought to the Ministry of Women Affairs, reiterating its commitment to protecting Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the State.
Giving a background story of the baby, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade, who noted that the baby was delivered on Thursday, said the newborn was brought to the Ministry from Apalara Medical Hospital by an Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, DSP Medinat Garuba and the Chief Medical Director, Apalara Hospital, Dr Giwa Luqman.
Chief Afolashade further stressed that the state government would provide all the medical and physical care needed by the baby as every child counts in the State, while also commending the good citizens who brought the baby to the Ministry.
The Commissioner explained that the Child Rights Law provides for the reintegration of abandoned babies into society through fostering or adoption, adding that due process must be followed and sufficient time allowed for mothers to reconsider their decision to give up or abandon their babies.
The Chief Medical Director, Apalara Hospital, Dr Giwa Luqman, revealed that the baby’s mother, who is a student, had earlier requested to terminate the pregnancy, adding that his counselling persuaded her to carry the pregnancy to term but she later abandoned the baby after delivery.
