Internet contributes to abandoned babies?

December 5, 2017

Very recently, a news item was found on a social web page that a newborn baby with the umbilical cord still attached was found abandoned, waiting for someone desirous of adopting the poor victim. In a previous February, a similar abandoned baby was found in the midst of rubbish in the back alley between Zadila and Zawtika Streets of Mahlwagone Htay Kywe (Ka) Ward of Tamway Township in Yangon. The baby was sent to Yankin Children’s Hospital for treatment, but unfortunately the baby died.

Medical professionals said these types of occurrences happen regularly.

“Events of abandonment in back alleys after delivery at home and cases of abandonment at hospitals are commonly found. Child abandonment was mostly attributed to unwanted conceptions”, said Dr. Pyone Mo Ei, a member of the team for protection of child abandonment, Myanmar Women Affairs Committee said.

Last year as well, it was learnt from social media pages that a baby with some scratches on its head and with some rubbish in its mouth was abandoned, packed in a bag in the grove nearby the old railroad tracks outside the Yaytagu village, Thamote village-tract in Myeik Township.

“Being youths, they cannot defend themselves from dangers and stand on their own two feet. Becoming pregnant, they will give birth to babies in secret places and abandon them. These became habits among them”, Dr. Pyone Mo Ei also said.

In accord with the saying, “The world is becoming a village with the advancement of Information Technology”, these days we are frequently hearing about child abandonment.

A superintendent of Children’s Hospital concluded that such cases of abandonment of innocent children are due to social or economic problems. But such deeds should not be done by young parents or their relatives.

Child abandonment is a criminal offence. A person can be arrested under section 317 of the Penal Code, it was learnt. A senior official said that, provided the person in question cannot take responsibility for caring for a newborn infant due to social problems, they can apply for entrusting the child to the child care centre at Shwegondine under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, and they can apply for the administration of the baby in the future when they find it easy for livelihood again.

The social welfare department under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement is giving care to socially disabled children and orphans from the age of infancy to 10 years in Mandalay, Kengtung, Pathein, Sittway, Magway, Mawlamyine and other cities, it was learnt. Even though they are being cared for, a mother’s lap is the safest place for them.

“Every child wants to be brought up in the lap of their mother. Today’s child, being future leaders-to-be, they would not like to start their life with bitter experiences. Had we managed to protect unwanted conception, child abandonment would never occur, we firmly believe this,” said Dr. Pyone Mo Ei.

It is definitely described in the pamphlet of the Child Care Centre, Shwegonedine that any child being despised and ridiculed becomes frightened and less confident of oneself; any child being blamed and denounced becomes accustomed to blaming others; likewise, any child being in touch with hatred tends to behave in an aggressive manner.

“We want people to know this. It is very important. However much the government gives care to children, they cannot be well qualified with good qualities like children in the laps of their own mothers. If we can give some help concerning unwanted conceptions, child abandonment will never occur”, a responsible official said. It has been learnt that a philanthropic team led by movie star Khaing Hnin Wai took part in a campaign to eliminate child rape.

“We helped to eradicate child rape and reduce child abandonment. We arranged short plays and concert. We aimed at educating youths as to what causes child rapes”, Khaing Hnin Wai said, As of November there were 735 cases of child rapes reported in 2017. It was learnt that most of the victims were between 14 and 16. Those who committed the child rapes belonged mostly to poor families and they are usually familiar with victims’ parents or guardians. They targeted girls by establishing trust and then abusing that trust. They are less educated and weak in judgment, according to a legal officer.

Some say access to the internet needs to be restricted.

“So as to reduce unnecessary offences on sex, it is necessary to broadly control the program of restricting internet use by today’s youths. In schools as well, simple and understandable sex education needs to be shared effectively”, said Daw Htar Htar, a founder of the Akhayar Women’s Network. Concerning protection against child rape, Daw Naw Thawa said, “Every individual has their personal own value. They themselves value and they need to value others. Consideration is needed to stand tall among the people.

We can control our desires with our own conscience and we can avert them as desired by us.”

By: Nandar Win, Myat Sandy

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar