One day after being saved from a pit latrine in the community of Otuocha, Anambra East Local Government Area, Anambra State, a newborn male infant died.
Nwaedoka Chidimma, a 20-year-old woman from the Izzi village in Ebonyi State, is said to have abandoned her infant by tossing him into a pit toilet shortly after giving birth on Sunday, August 27, 2023, according to a LIB report.
The baby was successfully retrieved on Tuesday, August 29, after local residents heard his cries emanating from the pit toilet.
Mrs. Ify Obinabo, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, intervened by transporting the infant to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, for medical treatment, and subsequently, the perpetrator was apprehended.
Mrs. Obinabo, confirming the unfortunate incident in a statement on Wednesday, lamented that despite exhaustive attempts to revive the baby, including the administration of oxygen and fluids along with cardiopulmonary resuscitation at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka, the newborn could not be saved.
“We regretfully inform the general public that the newborn rescued from the pit toilet in Otuocha has passed away a few hours ago despite our relentless efforts to revive him. These efforts included the application of oxygen and fluids as well as cardiopulmonary resuscitation performed at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku Awka. May the baby’s soul rest in peace,” she conveyed.
Esther, a resident, shared that the culprit, who was pregnant at the time, acquired agricultural employment within the community. While working on the farm, she used the toilet and returned with visible signs of bleeding. Esther, who is a farmer herself, mentioned that the suspect asked to stay at her residence for a few days to facilitate her work on the farm in the area.