Recently an abandoned baby was found in Edenvale, just minutes away from a Baby Saver box which would have saved its life; the community is calling for more awareness to help women in distress who are considering abandonment, to make the safer choice.
Edenvale, South Africa (29 August 2023) – The Tree of Hope in Edenvale has a baby safe that offers a soft place to put babies that mothers are unable to care for. A recent abandonment down the road has sparked outcry and a need for more awareness surrounding baby safes in South Africa.
The Baby Saver is an innovative way to protect unwanted babies from dangerous abandonment. The Tree of Hope has one on its premises and as soon as a baby is placed inside, a carer is alerted and they come to collect the baby and take it to safety.
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 dangerously dumped and left to be found.
Abandonment is a crisis in South Africa and one taken very seriously by many organisations. The Baby Saver SA team are working tirelessly to make sure baby safes are the only option a mother in distress considers when dealing with a baby.
Dr. Whitney Rosenburg and Nadene Grabham co-founded Baby Savers SA. Through their organisation, they have drafted a law proposal that will be presented to parliament to legalise the safe relinquishment of babies through Baby Savers, metal containers built into the wall of safe houses, as an alternative to unsafe abandonment. Nadene’s goal is to have this law approved and included in the Children’s Act.
Tree of Hope’s Baby Saver was installed in March of 2019 after several women started leaving their babies at the gate of the organisation. Since being installed, the organisation has received 21 babies through the baby saver. Each baby is tucked safely inside, and carers are able to collect them.
Recently, a community member made the tragic discovery of an abandoned baby near the Tree of Hope. Sadly, the baby didn’t survive, and the community was left rattled. A kind woman reached out to Good Things Guy, asking to highlight the Tree of Hope so that should any other mothers find themselves desperate and needing a safe space for their child, that they know where to turn instead of the heartbreaking alternative.
The baby safe is monitored by both the team at Tree of Hope and local security company Mamba.
The Tree of Hope Baby Saver is on 23 5th Avenue, Edenvale, South Africa. You can find the location of other Baby Savers via the Baby Saver website here.
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