Newborn abandoned by 18-year-old schoolgirl rescued in Mundri West

Health workers in Mundri West County, Westrn Equatoria State have rescued a newborn baby allegedly abandoned in a bush shortly after birth by an 18-year-old primary school pupil.

The incident reportedly occurred around midday on Monday in the Nguluwa area, where a young girl discovered the newborn and alerted her mother, who wrapped the baby in cloth and rushed the child to Mundri Primary Health Care Centre.

Benjamin Beneth Benjamin, a registered midwife and maternity intern at the facility, told Eye Radio that the baby was brought to the health centre at about 4 p.m.

“The baby was found in the grass without any clothes. A young girl discovered the baby near their house and informed her mother, who immediately wrapped the newborn in cloth and brought the child to the hospital. We later established that the baby’s mother was an 18-year-old schoolgirl,” Benjamin said.

He said the mother’s identity was established after two teachers arrived at the health facility and reported that one of their pupils had experienced heavy bleeding before leaving the school premises.

The girl’s relatives also came forward to confirm her identity. According to Benjamin, the family said they had not known she was pregnant despite living with her at home, as her body weight made the pregnancy difficult to notice.

Benjamin said the young mother was initially reluctant to seek medical attention but was later brought to the facility by police officers after health workers became concerned about her condition.

Medical personnel managed to stop her bleeding and treated an umbilical cord complication affecting the newborn.

Both mother and baby were admitted and received medical attention free of charge. Benjamin said an examination found no major health complications with the newborn.

According to Benjamin, the girl’s parents said they had no knowledge of her pregnancy, despite living with her at home. They explained that her body weight made the pregnancy difficult to notice.

In an appeal to young girls and their families, Benjamin urged pregnant adolescents to seek medical assistance rather than conceal their pregnancies.

“My message to all girls is that if you become pregnant, do not hide it from your parents. Tell them so that they can take you to the hospital and you receive help,” he said.

He also appealed to parents and community members to support young girls facing teenage pregnancies instead of threatening or punishing them.

“Giving birth in the bush is dangerous, and we want mothers to deliver safely in health facilities,” Benjamin said.

The midwife commended the woman who discovered the newborn, saying her decision to take the baby to hospital helped save the child’s life.

He added that health workers in Mundri continued to conduct health education sessions in schools and at the hospital to raise awareness about teenage pregnancy and the importance of safe delivery.