GUWAHATI: A newborn baby girl who was found abandoned in a dry drain in the city on Monday near Guwahati club, is now recovering well in SNCU at Mahendra Mohan Choudhary Hospital (MMCH).
Officials at MMCH told G Plus that the baby has been kept under observation and has been admitted to the special care newborn unit (SCNU) at present but is doing well and is showing signs of improvement. SCNUs provide special care for newborns with complications.
Passersby found the baby lying in a dry drain and informed the police early in the morning around 5:30 am. The locals who found the newborn said she bore injury marks around her face.
Assistant superintendent at MMCH, Dr K K Deka said that the baby was possibly abandoned within the first few hours of birth since the umbilical cord was still fresh when she was brought to the hospital.
Deka further added that the baby is active and weighs 1.6 kilograms and Wednesday completed her third day at the hospital.
“There were a few injury marks on the face and knee of the child when she was brought to the hospital which was possibly from being kept in the drain which have still not completely healed. She also has skin infection for which we are administering antibiotics and she is also being given intravenous therapy (IV) fluid,” informed hospital authorities.
A nurse at MMCH informed that the baby is being spoon fed and will be ready for discharge only when the antibiotics’ course is finished and when the authorities deem her fit to be let go.
Hospital authorities said they were considering two possibilities due to which the baby might have been abandoned. They suspect that either the baby is illegitimate or the parents wanted a boy instead of a girl and hence abandoned her.
“It was by the stroke of luck that the baby was found in time by the locals and was saved. Since she is a premature newborn baby, they need a lot of care especially during the initial hours of birth,” said Dr Deka.
He added that state social welfare minister Pramila Rani Brahma also visited the hospital on Tuesday and asked the authorities to ensure that the baby receives proper care.
Commenting on the future course of action, hospital authorities said that they will hand the baby over to the police who will get in touch with officials from the district child protection unit.
Additionally, former chairperson of the Kamrup (Metro) child welfare committee, Jitu Dutta informed that usually in such cases, the child is first sent to the district child protection unit (DCPU) who will officially declare that the child is abandoned and then will give the child up for adoption.
