Thalitha’s Xmas packages to aid abandoned infants

The Thalitha Children’s Trust for abandoned babies has raised over R40 000 for its latest campaign to deliver Christmas care packages to several local police stations around Johannesburg next month in time for Christmas.

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The initiative is an extension of the children’s trust to care for abandoned infants who land in hospitals while they await placements to the various institutions in the province.

According to the organisation, every year over 3500 babies are abandoned to hospitals by their mothers.

“We want to give these children a jump start in life. The reason why we started raising awareness about what we do is because we want to give abandoned babies a voice and for us if we can change just one life,” the founder, Dr. Chelsea Zindoga- Vogerl explained.

Dr Zindoga said they had narrowed down a list of areas considered as popular hotspots where a high number of abandoned infants were reported.

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“Police officials are often the first responders on the scene and unfortunately they have minimal resources for such cases. Through the initiative, we will target police stations in hotspot areas and supply the care packages which will ensure the babies are comfortable and warm during that traumatic ordeal,” she said.

The funds raised are from a group of cyclists, who have donated in support of the work done by the Non-Profit Organisation.

“The list is still growing, and we are trying to cover more police stations but we have identified the SAPS in Diepkloof, Hillbrow, Yeoville, Thembisa, Alexandra, and Bramley.

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“The packages will include beanies, onesies, toys, socks, blankets and formula which will form part of in-house resources for police stations,” added Angus Hamilton Morris, Creative Director for Dark Matter.

According to Dr. Zindoga, child abandonment was another pandemic in the country which needed the government’s immediate intervention.

“When we started, it was just about providing packages but we realised that it would be like putting a band-aid to a deep crack. Issues like poverty, HIV/AIDS and the lack of education especially among young girls.

“We know the impact of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and rape and that plays a huge factor,” she said.

Thalitha Children’s Trust was founded in 2018 after she cared for babies abandoned after birth at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.

It was at this time a picture of her carrying one of the abandoned babies on her back went viral on social media. In the post, the medical doctor was asking for donations for the baby in time for Christmas.

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