The importance of Baby Savers in saving lives

Following the recent discovery of a foetus at the Klapmuts sewage pump station, the Helderberg Baby Saver (HBS) is reminding pregnant women in crisis of its baby saver services available to them.

Sandy Immelman, founded the Helderberg Baby Saver in 2014. She is also the founding member of Baby Saver South Africa. She said since its inception, 13 babies have been saved by Helderberg Baby Saver. 

The Baby Saver is currently managed by the Khethani Women's Wellness in Somerset West, and is open 24 hours a day. Once a baby is placed in the "saver", it locks on impact and the alarm alerts the team of responders that there is a new placement.

The responding team consists of officers from a security company who alert the Helderberg Baby Saver response team and the ambulance services, who, upon arrival, examine the baby and transport the baby to Helderberg Hospital for admission.

The case is then handed over to social workers.

According to Ms Immelman, raising ongoing awareness about the availability of the baby saver is crucial to ensure women or girls in crisis know about the option.

"As the girls or women who need to know about the saver change constantly, there needs to be information shared on a regular basis. Our hope is that those facing a crisis pregnancy will reach out to Khethani for assistance and thus avoid being in a situation where they feel abandonment is their only option."

Ms Immelman said that multiple babies are found abandoned in South Africa, and of those found, only a third of them are still alive.

"Many are never found. Those that are found alive often have experienced extreme trauma (overnight next to a busy road, freezing temperatures, no nourishment, bitten by ants or rats, etc) and thus have complications going forward. Babies who are safely relinquished in a baby saver are safe and are attended to within minutes."

Moms in crisis might be hesitant to make use of a baby saver due to fears of being identified, but they can be reassured that their identities will not be revealed as a result of the location and surroundings of Helderberg Baby Saver, she said.

"HBS is built into the side wall of Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre for a number of reasons. It is away from the public eye, yet safe to access. A person carrying a baby in the vicinity would not be considered unusual. There are no cameras, so no record of who placed the baby in the saver," said Ms Immelman.

"Sadly, women or girls who experience a crisis pregnancy are often turned away and shamed by the very people meant to assist them. We strongly believe that no one would be willing to abandon their baby if they had not already been abandoned themselves - by the father of the child, their family, their community.

"We want to make sure that if someone is so desperate that they feel they have no option, other than to abandon their baby, there is a safe relinquishment option available to them so that little lives are saved."

Monique Mortlock-Malgas, spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Social Development, (DSD) said the department has various support services available to prevent child abandonment.

"Support services are available at public health facilities, when requested, as well as local DSD offices, and non-profits in the child protection sector for those who need support following the birth of a baby, she said, adding that services include counseling, family planning services, and information about alternative options.

"We encourage anyone who may be suffering from mental health challenges and does not feel in a position to care for their children to reach out to their nearest DSD office, where these options can be discussed," she said, adding that the department encourages those who are struggling to reach out for help by contacting the tollfree number 0800 220 250.

The department has appealed to the public to be vigilant and report any sightings of abandoned babies or children to the police or the local DSD office.

"When a case of child abandonment is reported, the child protection protocol is activated and assigned to a designated child protection social worker for further investigation," said Ms Mortlock-Malgas.

For more information on the Helderberg Baby Saver visit www.khethani.org