The Baby Saver is a life-saving unit that protects babies and keeps them safe when a mother in crisis chooses to abandon them; the first unit will be installed in Eswatini as soon as it gets delivered.
Manzini, Kingdom of Eswatini (18 February 2022) – Baby abandonment is a heartbreaking act but a reality throughout the world. Often, mothers feeling overwhelmed or scared about their pregnancies will try to dispose of the baby when it finally arrives. This act is illegal, but organisations are working to offer safer, anonymous options, so babies end up in a safe place rather than dumped and left to be found.
The Kiki Haven Foundation has seen the reality of baby abandonment in the Kingdom of Eswatini, and the hope is to be the change. Founder Mumcy Dlamini started doing research and found Baby Saver in South Africa. She purchased the first baby safe but now needs to raise funds to have it delivered and installed in Manzini, Eswatini.
“Our mission statement is to prevent the illegal abandonment of newborns and babies up to three months by raising awareness and also offering counselling and assistance to desperate mothers and those affected by gender-based violence. We also offer a last resort option for mothers where they can surrender their babies. This idea came to me after seeing all the stories of abandoned babies in the media. It made my heartache and I couldn’t just sit back and not do anything.”
A Baby Saver is a specialised unit that alerts people when a baby has been safely placed inside the safe. The safe is warm and contains a blanket so the baby can stay comfortable while help arrives.
A baby saver does not encourage abandonment but rather offers a safe alternative to abandonment and should only be used as a last resort. Unsafe abandonment should never be an option.
“We are collaborating with Baby Saver in South Africa which transitioned from Baby Safe. The surrendered babies will be taken to a safe home, after being examined by doctors and found fit to be discharged. Basically, the same procedure will be followed when a baby is found abandoned. Our vision is for KHF to provide the babies with a safe home in the future.”
Mumcy hopes that once the first safe is installed, she will be able to raise funds to go towards a further three units. This will mean that there will be a safe in each region of Eswatini. The first baby safe will be installed at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, popularly known as Nazarene Hospital in Manzini, a central and bustling town in Eswatini.
The babies that are saved by installing a baby-safe will go to one of the homes identified by the foundation. These include:
- Bulembu Babies Home – https://www.bulembu.org
- New Hope Centre – http://www.newhopeswaziland.com
- El Shaddai Orphanage – https://www.elshaddaiswazi.org
- Posture Valley Farm and Children’s Home – http://www.pasturevalleychildren.org
- SOS Children’s Villages Eswatini – https://sos.org.sz
Being part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), we are proud to celebrate the good things happening in our neighbouring countries.
The state of the world has meant many women worldwide have felt the pressure of dealing with unwanted pregnancies or the feeling of overwhelm when wanting to raise a child through these trying economic times. It has made work by organisations like the Kiki Haven Foundation vital.
Baby Saver SA shares news about all the baby safes they help install, that includes the ones being installed in SADC countries. Previously, we shared the one installed in Namibia; now we hope to see the first one in Eswatini. You can support the Kiki Haven Foundation’s first baby safe by donating via BackaBuddy here. The funds are to be used to cover the delivery costs and installation of the first safe, which has already been purchased and to get started on the purchase, delivery and installation of the next three.
You can find a full list of safe locations on the Baby Saver SA website here.
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