A rescue station for abandoned babies
A safe place for abandoned babies was launched by Impilo Foster Homes and ER24 and Impact Baby Rescue in Cosmo City
A baby drop box was launched at the Impilo Foster Home for Aids orphans
on 2 August to assist desperate mothers to safely give their baby a better future.
Senior pastor for Village Church Lonehill Colin Ekamen says, he had a vision in 2008 to create a safe place for orphans to stay until they could be placed in an appropriate facility or home.
This vision became reality when Impilo Foster Home formed its first foster home in August 2011, followed by a second home in April 2014.
Ekamen stated that, “We needed the immediate medical care at the home for the babies that were found abandoned.”
Hans Lodder CEO and director of Impilo Foster Homes said, “One of our children was abandoned on a rubbish dump in a plastic bag and as a result suffers from brain damage. He has been one of our inspirations for the project.”
This led to the launch of the baby drop box which was done with the help of ER24 Emergency Medical Services, Village Church’s Impilo Child Protection and Adoption Services and Impact Africa Baby Rescue.
A mother places her baby in the box, which is followed by an alarm inside the house and is sent to ADT, RSS security services and ER24.
ER24’s Luyanda Majija said, “ER24 has partnered with Impilo Foster Homes to … facilitate the dispatch [of] an ambulance with the appropriate medical crews to assess a baby dropped off at the rescue station.”
Richard Franzen, founder of Impact Africa Baby Rescue, commented that his organisation, “helps community centres with the education and prevention of abandonment of babies.”
Details: Hans Lodder hansl@impilofosterhomes.org.za, info@impilofosterhomes.org.za, 079 840 7119; Impact Baby Rescue 071 617 2002.
