Abandoned new born babies: “not a rare incident” in PNG

By Fr. John M. Glynn

15 OCT 2013. “I am afraid that the laws - including the Lukautim Pikinini Act - are quite ineffective in the absence of infrastructure. Two weeks ago a woman we know found an abandoned new born baby in a rubbish heap - umbilical cord still attached. She took it to Port Moresby General Hospital where the baby was cleaned up and found to be in good health. A Social Worker was called. The woman who found the baby said she wanted to keep it and the Social Worker was very relieved and told her to take it. No records were made of the incident. It was all done quite informally. This is not a rare incident.”