Photo of an abandoned baby boy in Checkpoint in Juba - Sept 15, 2023 - Credit: Moses Awan/Eye Radio

A resident of Checkpoint in Juba found a newborn baby boy abandoned in an unfinished building Thursday evening.

Musa Oneway Galuak said he found the baby boy at eight in the evening and wrapped it in a small cloth.

After reporting the case to the police, Musa said the infant had been taken to hospital for medication care.

“I am a resident of the checkpoint, yesterday [September 14] evening around 8:00 PM I came home and after settling down I heard the cry of a baby from an unfinished house 100 meters from my home, I knew no one lived there so I followed the cry of the baby and found a baby wrapped in a tinny cloth,” Musa narrated the incident to Eye Radio.

“I took the baby to my wife after that we took the baby to the police post at the checkpoint from where we took the baby to the clinic and a doctor gave us gripe water that he had been taking all night,” he said.

“In the morning, I returned to the police post in the morning where they advised me to take the baby to Jebel police station to meet the prosecutor. I came to Jebel Police station and have done all legal processes.”

Brig. Gen. Hussein Daud Jano, the director of Jebel Police Station in Juba said they were done with the incident’s legal documents in conjunction with the prosecutor.

He says if the mother of the baby appeared and wanted to Eye Radio this morning to claim her baby, she will have to follow the legal process to confirm the baby belongs to her.

“All abandoned babies when brought here we send them to the Ministry of Social Welfare Department of orphans. This particular baby was brought this morning to the station and we have done all the necessary legal procedural documents with the prosecutor,” Gen. Hussein said.

“If the mother appears she will have to follow legal process to confirm if the baby belongs to her”.

For her part, Betty Thomas, a social worker in charge of St. Claire Orphanage House of Children in Juba said people often abandon babies due to mental problems and negligence among others.

“When a baby is found like this it’s advisable for the person who found the baby not to take the baby first take the baby to the station, because in case anything happens to the baby the government will hold you responsible, and you will be charged,” said Betty.

“People abandon babies for different reasons, other people might be sick others may have financial problems and poverty may lead others to do that.”

“There are some that are following the child and the moment they see that the baby is okay they will come and reclaim their baby”.