Most of them have never tasted mother’s milk. They are called castoffs, but they are people. And very small ones
They refused to see him. She left the maternity hospital without even having a look at the diapered and crying creature. Of course, she is not a mother. She is a woman delivered of a child. I want neither to look into the causes of this outrageous action nor to condemn or excuse a woman like this. Let God be her judge. But it is painful to think that the not-so- easy human problems and woes fall on a human being barely one or two days old. The castoff cries, as all babies do, but it seems to me these are the woeful tears of a grown man.
Yes, the point is not only in one disreputable woman. Every year, 150-200 newborns are abandoned in Kharkiv’s maternity wards. Their destiny has always been unenviable, but in our times it is particularly difficult. The technique of caring for such children has long been tried out. After a week’s stay in the maternity hospital, they are transferred to the regional perinatal center, where doctors examine them and begin to prepare documents. Infants can stay here as long as forty-five days. Then, depending on their state of health, they are redistributed among medical institutions of different profiles. There, they are observed, examined, and have their documents finalized. And only then does the House of the Child admit the castoffs.
Thus, these babies are cared for in public-health institutions for from seven to twelve months.
We have visited all hospitals where there are children left without parental custody. Most of them, 40 infants, are in city children’s Hospital No. 24. Those who work here are helpful and responsive people. Incidentally, we have never seen cold-hearted medical personnel attending such children. But the 70-year-old hospital building needs renovation. Last winter, the roof sprang a big leak and plaster chipped off. Windows will not open, so there is no fresh air. But it is especially painful to look at the babies. Some of them are dystrophic, with apparent signs of physical and even mental retardation. Unfortunately, the state is able to allocate an average three hryvnias (about 55 cents) a day for their medical treatment and food. The nurses cannot stand it and occasionally bring a bun or some milk. They do so in spite of being paid just enough to not have to beg.
Three hryvnias is clearly not enough to raise a healthy child. All mothers know that everything a child is deprived of in the first years of life cannot be made up for in all the years following. Who will agree to adopt such a sick and underdeveloped child?
Our AVEK city charitable foundation has drawn up a social project to render assistance to infants left without parental care, before they are transferred to the House of the Child. The project is already working. Under the project, the foundation donates food, clothes, patient-care items, and medicines, especially those to strengthen immunity, to all children’s hospitals with such infants.
Since Hospital No. 24 has gathered the most of such tiny tots, we will help renovate it. In addition, we will equip its courtyard with pergolas and playpens to be able to keep the babies outdoors as long as possible.
The problem of throwaway newborns is a nationwide one. Please note that with each passing year, more and more babies are born, but fewer and fewer of them are abandoned. Last year, the mortality rate in Kharkiv exceeded the birth rate by 1.7 times. But the number of abandoned children rose twofold from 1993. What are we coming to?
The foundation’s board of directors has set itself a very simple goal. We want to show that children can be happy in one particular city thanks not to their parents but to the people among whom they live.
I want our undertaking to reach out to as many entrepreneurs and philanthropists of all countries possible, as well as to international non- governmental organizations. In civilized countries foster families are more and more replacing traditional orphanages. Almost all children live in families there. We want our society to go down the same path. The project’s philosophy is as follows: “Every child must have a chance to live in a family!”
There are charitable foundations in all Ukraine’s big cities. I appeal to my colleagues, the leaders of these foundations, let us take the throwaway babies under our care! This undertaking will not draw thunderous applause or thanks from the infants’ parents, but there will be a bit fewer neonatal tears in Ukraine. Is this not a noble undertaking?
