7-month-old child abandoned

A baby boy believed to be in his seventh month has been abandoned near the Catholic Missionaries in Harper, Maryland County. The incident occurred on Saturday, 8 July. Speaking in an interview with The New Dawn in Harper on Sunday, July 9, Nathaniel Gbarbo a guard assigned at the gate of the Missionaries explains that the child was seen sitting under heavy downpour of rain by a caretaker, who went to dispose of garbage in the early morning hours.

He narrates that upon the discovery of the child with a plastic bag containing five pieces of diapers, Madam Evelyn Stephen, who saw the baby, immediately informed him.
Mr. Gbarbo continues that after taking the child in the fence, he immediately contacted the Liberia National Police headquarters in Harper and subsequently turned the infant over to the police.

The police in return, contacted Maryland County Superintendent Betsy Kuoh Toe to find someone to take care of the child, while police search for the mother or any relative.
Superintendent Toe the offered to take the child home, but Madam Evelyn Stephen said she would take the boy home and cater to him.

However, due to health reason, it was advised that the child should first be taken to hospital for examination before Madam Stephen takes him home to provide care. The lad was treated for cold since he was under the rain for several hours before his discovery. Doctors advised that he reports for further examination and medication.

Police in the county are yet to identify mother of the child or a relative since he was found, but several citizens who spoke to this paper in Harper say, the child’s mother may have brought him from neighboring counties or communities as he is strange in Harper.

The boy is presently in Hoffman Station community with Madam Evelyn Stephen, and said to be responding to treatment gradually.Meanwhile, Superintendent Betsy Toe is calling on citizens of the county and from neighboring counties as well as the Ivory Coast to provide any information that may help in reconnecting the baby with its mother or a relative.
“This is quite frustrating and I can’t just believe that a woman will carry pregnancy for nine complete months, went through labor pain, takes care of the baby for six months and just dashes her baby, there is something going on that we don’t know, but I am calling onthe government and humanitarian organizations to please come to the aid of the baby in order to save his life” Superintendent Toe pleads.

 By George K. Momo/ Maryland-Editing by Jonathan Browne