Young mothers in Matungulu and Kangundo Sub-Counties have been advised to give their children up for adoption incase they find it hard to take care of their babies instead of abandoning them. Speaking to this writer from her office, the area children's officer Susan Ouma went ahead to caution young mothers against abandoning their children upon birth since its an offence punishable by law.
The officer confirmed that children abandonment has been rampant in hospitals as mothers abandon their children upon birth. Ouma observed that the trend was commonly among teenage mothers who get unwanted pregnancies thereby leaving the burden to the hospitals who call us to pick the children.
"Young mothers should be warned that child abandonment is an offence punishable by law and if you are caught or traced you will face the law," warned Ouma.
The officer cited that these cases are not only in Hospitals but that they also receive cases from pedestrians of children wrapped in clothing's left on the roadsides or dumpsites where some develop diseases or die due to unfavourable weather conditions.
Ouma observed that reasons to such actions was mainly due to poverty explaining that unemployed mothers from poor families see these children as a burden rather than as a blessing. She also mentioned that once a mother realises she has given birth to a disabled child she contemplates on abandoning the kid not knowing that disability is not inability.
She concluded advising mothers to ask mothers to think about the safety of their children first before abandoning them.