ALAPPUZHA: A seven-day-old baby boy, who was dumped on the premises of Women and Children Hospital here on Friday night, was rescued by the Child Welfare Committee. This is for the second time in four months that such an incident has happened due to the malfunctioning of Ammathottil (child cradle) here.
Mr K.K. Joseph, member, district Child Welfare Committee, said that the child was being taken care of by the neonatal care centre of W and C hospital. “His condition is stable,” he said. On January 16, a woman had left her newborn baby near the Ammathottil leading to her detention by the local people. The Ammathottil scheme was introduced in the state in 2001 so that women can leave abandoned babies there.
Mr Joseph said that several letters had been written to the Child Welfare Council for the maintenance of the cradle. But so far, no action had been taken.
Mr Muhammad Ismail, administrative officer of the council, said that repairing charges had been given to Sahya Valley Technologies (P) Ltd, Thiruvananthapuram, for its maintenance.
“If it’s still dysfunctional, the council will recheck with the agency,” he said. An employee of the hospital said that there was no maintenance after the cradle had developed the glitch six months ago.
