11 Jul 2024

A safe haven law to address increasing cases of infant abandonment across the country is urgently needed, says executive director of Love Botswana Outreach Mission, Dr Jana Lackey.

Speaking at the handing over of donations by Dawn Pharmacy to Lorato House Rescue Centre in Maun, Dr Lackey said in some countries mothers in crisis were assisted to safely leave their babies at designated areas where they were protected and given medical care until a permanent home was found.

The Lorato rescue centre caters for children aged 0-5 years who are either abandoned or orphaned and in need of protection as well as children living with disabilities aged 0-10 years.

The pharmacy donated toiletry, first aid items, medical items, kids goodie packages and T-shirts worth over P10 000 as part of its corporate social responsibility as well as to celebrate three years anniversary in the industry.

Dr Lackey said a safe haven law could help relief the centre which was struggling with inadequate resources and the overstaying of children.

She appreciated that government was partly funding the centre, stating that the assistance  of Love Botswana helped to cover children’s needs.

She said the law was called by different names in countries such as baby Moses law or infant safe haven law, noting that it allowed mothers to leave their unwanted babies in designated places such as police stations and hospitals without any fear of facing criminal charges, but that if one left the baby in a dangerous place she was charged.

She said it was unfortunate that babies were currently left in unsafe places and some damped in pit latrines.

She appreciated support from Dawn Pharmacy and appealed to other businesses, including tourism operators, to emulate them and invest in the future of vulnerable children.

She noted that they had 44 children at the centre and that some had stayed for long periods.

She said they were advocating for a law that would easily allow children to be adopted by interested families where there was no alternative rather than staying at the centre or relocating to another institution.

No child, she said, should be kept in an institution for a long time, adding that rescue centres were short term solutions.

The founder and managing director of Dawn Pharmacy, Ms Boikanyo Gaolebe said they decided to celebrate their third anniversary with the little ones by spending time and donating goods in an effort to meet some of their needs.

She said they had experienced immerse support from the community hence they decided to share their blessings with Lorato centre.

She also appreciated the work done by staff to care for vulnerable children. Ends