Photo: Emer-G-Med
Paramedics said a member of the public discovered an aborted foetus in a packet on the sidewalk on Thursday.
Photo: Emer-G-Med
An aborted foetus was found in a packet on the sidewalk on Joe Slovo Street in the Durban CBD on Thursday afternoon.
According to Emer-G-Med spokesperson, Kyle van Reenen, paramedics were called to assist the metro police.
“Paramedics were called to assist Metro Police after a member of public discovered an aborted foetus in a packet on the sidewalk on Joe Slovo Street of the Central Business District,” Van Reenen said.
He said the foetus was assessed and confirmed to be dead on the arrival of paramedics.
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“The scene was handed over to the South African Police Services for further investigation and processing,” Van Reenen said.
Five newborns babies and foetuses were found dumped in South Africa in the past three months:
“Abandonment of infants in South Africa is, unfortunately, a common occurrence.
“Many of these children are left to die, or simply abandoned, in dustbins, open fields, public toilets, or on train tracks,” The Door of Hope organisation said.
The organisation knew that something needed to be done
ALSO READ: Watch: Desperate pregnant mothers begged not to dump their babies
“In 1999 the Berea Baptist Mission Church said, “something needs to be done”. Under the leadership of Pastor Cheryl Allen, the church made a hole in their wall and a ‘Baby Box’ was installed allowing for mothers to leave their babies any time day or night for the church to take care of them,” the organisation said.
The moment a baby is placed, care workers on duty receive an electronic signal alerting them. The baby is taken in and the anonymity of the “donor” is ensured.