refinedone

RefinedOne….Vexed!! Who is speaking for our babies?

In Change, Charity, Childcare, Children, Childwelfare, Crisis, Human rights, Kindness, Lagos, Life, Linkachild.org, Love, Nigeria, Orphans on August 28, 2007 at 6:20 pm

Hi guys…It’s been along break and a very necessary one too on so many levels, I guess the different aspects of it would reflected on my future posts.
My last post was all about Link-a-child and a particular Orphanage I was drawn to help, I asked for your assistance and I must say thanks to those that acted on the cry.
I must update you on the development on my trip regarding the orphage in Igbo Efon called  Hope for all Foundation Motherless babies home
To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, I was broken hearted at the state I saw my babies (My baby Sola and the other babies) there had been no improvement ….if any it was getting worse. To help get things going and improved I got talking with a friend about getting her church involved since it was nearer the Motherless babies home, only to find out that a lady by the name of Sabina God bless her, truly an angel ( I will be talking about her and the work she does in the very near future) Sabina had been to the same Orphanage and was very disturb about the state the babies where living in.
This for me was divine intervention cos of the way we both had been drawn to the same Orphanage and passion for the babies’ welfare. Sabina later told me that she had seen other Orphanages and was deeply sadden at the state of things at Hope for all foundation Motherless babies home in Igbo Efon Lekki. We found out that the babies were not getting vitamins, but the babies have since been secretly administering the vitamins to the babies without the Homes administrator Ms Regina Adegbite knowing cos she may not give the babies (why you say? I do not know). The whole situation gets even more bizarre
We arranged to visit the orphanage together the following day which was a Sunday, so after service we set off, me, Sabina, my sis-law Celina and my friend Sis Osaretin who had linked Sabina and I together.
As we walked into the room where the babies slept, played and eat the smell was overpowering, they all were sick with diarrhea full with dirty nappies that looked like they had not been changed all day , the had all lost weigth and where skin and bone , we later found out that the babies where not getting any medication for their diarrhea…this is no exaggeration, it was that bad!
In a mixture of vexation, hurt and pain we immediately insisted and assisted the babies to have their bath and changing their nappies. One at a time they were bathe we each got down to drying them with one towel between five children, they had no rash cream or baby powder.
QUICK NOTE: they did not have these things not because they were not donated or given, cos as an example, I know a couple of weeks before,  Celina my sis-in-law had donated 25,000 Naira worth of baby milk and nappies, Sabina had donated petroleum jelly and powder previously too ( so you say where did all that go? I don’t know)
While we were assisting in getting the babies bath and dressed the administrator was nowhere to be seen, she knew we were around. Five babies where been looked after by one young lady!
It gets worse..while we were talking to the administrator one of the little children by the name of Tolu who was brain damaged due to the way he was delivered (his mother standing and him delivered head first) like any 2yr old boy went playing amongst some donated gift items…what happened next was the nail in the coffin for me….Ms Regina Adegbite slapped the little boy on his face! In front of 4 mothers, when she was confronted about her action she said she would do it again, that the boy was stubborn. Sabina had mentioned that when she was at the orphanage sometime before that Ms Regina Adegbite had smacked my baby Sola in her present…now we saw it for ourselves. If she could do that in our presence what would she do in our absences?
After the slap, I had to excuse myself less I did something that would not have been lady like. Sabina carried Tolu and was comforting him she had tears in her eyes and prayed over him and the other babies…her heart was so broken
These children are at risk!
At risk of malnutrition!
At risk of abuse (emotional/physical)
At risk of death!
CHILD WELFARE IN NIGERIA WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ….More on trying to get help for the babies of  Hope for all Foundation Motherless babies home Igbo Efon, Lekki

The kind of help I trully would like is to move the babies away from that place to another safe orphange ….cos there are plenty of very well run homes in Nigeria.

  1. Welcome back. This is disheartening…Is there any way a formal complaint can be made against Childwelfare? Do you have pictures, maybe you need to make a clandestine video using a cellphone. Until people can see something to react to, nothing will be done; I’m afraid the plight of these kids is gloomy.

  2. [...] Read more: Refined One – Who is speaking for our babies? [...]

  3. My problem is while we make complaints the kids are still in there misery…we need the kids taken out of the, while investigations are going on.

  4. Wow!! Apart from blogging about it…is there another way in which notice can be brought to the plight of these kids. Can an adopt a child program be set up..where people can financially adopt a child. Of course, there is a need for a good administrator to be in place who will ensure that things go the way it should…..

    pammy

  5. @ Pammy-
    Adoption in Nigeria is a very long process, but really that is not what is needed now…like you have said “good administrators and ministration” is what is needed…Childwelfare should start really doing there jobs and leave there offices and actually go into the homes and look out for the kids…

  6. I am utterly appalled, the way people use the adjective stubborn to abuse children in the name of discipline and control, it is contemptible to the extreme.

    Is there any way we in Diaspora can be of help on this matter?

    The kids no doubt need love not a physically abusive administrator who is clueless about bringing succour to children who have lost so much in motherly and parental love so early in life.

  7. @Akin-

    We can mobilize and hopefully forcing the welfare department to act… not just for this particular children but I bet there are more out there….Right now we need to spot light the situation …there is many more I have to say but it would not be wise to disclose all that yet…so if you know anyone in Nigeria that could help … pls contact , and lets start putting all the pressure!

    There are loads of very well run homes in Nigeria, so this is not a representation of the situation, but we still have a lot of work to do… and I still lay the responsibility on CHILDWELFARE!

    We have the power of the internet that is what we can do for now…

  8. Okay, what if one can report this incident to some of the reputable human rights organizations in Nigeria? I’m sure there are many more cases.

    Is it possible to push the new media to investigate the state of health of homeless baby homes in Nigeria? Lagos will be a good place to start and I’m thinking of getting someone like Funmi Iyanda involved.

    For cases of child maltreatment to hold up, strong evidence must be gathered. How can this be done?

  9. That would be great….did try to get Ms Iyanda,to help with spotlighting the situation, but she was out of the country just before I left…
    You are speaking my language.. That is exactly what I’m pushing for…

    The evidence is in you face … all you need do is see for yourself..it is self evident.

    Everything that has be said in this post I STAND by it.

  10. OH NO!!! This is so sad! And I’m sure it’s not just at this home that babies are treated that way! Surely something can be done to rescue those children? God bless Refined One, thanks for this update… and I know there is hope because people like yourself are acting against this abuse. Shalom.

  11. Hi sis,

    Thanks for dropping by my blog. I appreciate. Also I want to comment you on your goodwork for those innocent babies, may God reward your effort. Am thinking of what to do also to be a part of your team, when iam through, I will get back to you.

  12. Welcome back. Sad about the children. Thanks for bringing this to the fore.
    God bless

  13. We can all sign up a petition of some sort. This type of stealing from the poor is why I hesitate donating to charities.

    I beg we can name and shame that Administrator showing her picture doesn’t she have childrent?

    Just ask within jurisdiction lest she prevents further visitations

  14. @30+

    Name and shame is not a problem, pictures I have, but in our country things dont work like that…I would like the childen removed while all the investigations are going on, get the rigth department to do there job is the problem.
    …Still working on getting more ppl aware in Nigeria….so anyone that can help, pls do!
    Petitions will come in later to help improve a better service. Thanks for stopping by.

    @Pea,Ejiro and Babawilly…thanks for your comments too…Babawilly will be talking to you soon, would need your assistance.

  15. Missed you, Ro! The children are so blessed to have you and others stand for them when they can’t stand for themselves…keep being vocal and inspiring us all to ACTION!

  16. Wow. Sad to hear about this.

  17. Hi. my name is uzo and i live in abia state. i’ve been thinking about establishing a motherless babies home for some time but I know the time is not now. i just established an ngo dat deals only with children. now, my problem is how to reach out and help. I tried to compile a list of the orphanages and motheless babies homes we have in Nigeria and its almost an impossible task. I’m not giving up. Like u said, d problem is not that aids are not given to these administrators but dat the gifts are being misappropriated. to do dat job, the 1st quality dat qualifies u is having an empathic, sympathetic & compassionate nature. dis is in short supply. by the end of d day, these kids suffer under cinderella`s wicked step mum. what now do we do as private individuals to monitor these bodies, closing down some, make sure aids are distributed nation wide and dat these aids actually get to the children and help these children grow into honourable citizens with the confidence and tools they need to get thru life. Pls get in touch. d number u can reach me on is 08053695661- i dont have d money but i have d compassion, will, talent, energy and probably d contacts to make a difference in these children’s lives. good work u’re doing there.

  18. Hello , I am 2 years later with my post, I just came across this message about the Motherless babies home in lekki and i would like to know more about the situation and perhaps get involved.
    Can I get an update of the situation as it stands to date. Are the babies still in the same condition or has a solution be found?
    I would really like to help and team up with others that are already addressing the issue. Gob Bless all of you that are taking the time to care for these babies . Please ,I would love to hear from you , look forward to your updates .. thanks
    please reach me at joanneomartins@googlemail.com

  19. This post is due a major update… Joan thanks I will email you … but first I must say the kids are fine and the home is no more … NO thanks to the authorities… but a Greater One!