The mother of a nine-day-old infant who was thrown down a garbage chute in a building in Al Taawun area in Sharjah is awaiting a judge’s decision on whether she can breastfeed her child, an official at Sharjah police told Gulf News yesterday.
The official said the infant was taken to hospital immediately after being rescued by the police, while the mother is behind bars.
Dr Arif Al Noryani, director of Al Qasimi Hospital, told Gulf News that the infant, who weighs only 3kg, is in a stable condition after being admitted to the ICU unit. Dr Al Noryani said the infant had suffered a fractured skull and internal bleeding.
“Even though the heart and lungs are unharmed, he has infections and is constantly being monitored,” he said. The infant was admitted to the ICU in the premature babies section and was given medicines to fight the infections.
Dr Al Noryani said the hospital was providing complete care to the baby as well as food, clothes and nappies. “A group of nurses is taking care of the baby,” Al Noryani said
Judge to decide
Dr Muna Abdullah Khalaf, paediatric consultant at Al Qasimi Hospital, told Gulf News that the infant was moved yesterday from the ICU to a normal paediatric room as his condition is stable and the internal bleeding has stopped.
Dr Al Noryani said the infant will stay at the hospital for 10 days more for additional treatment and then will be sent to the Sharjah Social Services .
“Let the judges decide the infant’s fate. As for me, I consider this woman unfit to be a mother as she tried to kill her infant,” said Dr Al Noryani.
“The judge will see her motivation for committing such a criminal deed,” he added
“The mother may be allowed to breastfeed her baby if the judge permits her to do so. However, the adoption of the infant is not a question at this stage because his parents are known to the authorities,” the police official said.
“In a few days, the judge will decide the fate of the baby — whether he will stay with his mother in jail or with the social care department,” the official added.
According to the police, the incident took place between 4am and 5am, when the baby’s mother — a Filipina housemaid in her 30s — tried to kill the newborn by throwing him down the garbage chute from the ninth floor of the building.
The child was found by the watchman who was on his morning rounds at around 6am.
The watchman informed the police after which a team from the Criminal Investigation Department at Sharjah Police went to investigate, before establishing the identity of the baby’s mother. The baby was rushed to hospital while police arrested the maid following their investigation.
Let the judges decide the infant’s fate. As for me, I consider this woman unfit to be a mother as she tried to kill her infant.”
Dr Arif Al Noryani, Director, Al Qasimi Hospital
By Aghaddir Ali, Staff Reporter
