Saturday, February 18, 2006
Illegal adoption of babies
Committee frowns at illegal adoption of babies
Enugu, Nigeria β The Enugu State Committee on Child Fostering and Adoption has expressed concern at the increasing rate of illegal adoption of babies in the state. Chairman of the committee, the Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, told reporters in Enugu on Wednesday that the most worrisome development was the way some hospitals sold babies in the name of adoption.
He alleged that some of the hospitals harboured young girls to have babies, which they in turn, sold out without passing through the right process of adoption.
The bishop said the committee had closed down some clinics that indulged in the act, while six girls had been arrested during inspection of the hospitals, alleging that some of the babies were used for ritual purposes.
He warned that the committee would not tolerate acts of indecency and child abuse, adding that it would take drastic action against any doctor or clinic that engaged in illegal adoption of babies.
βIt is illegal for a doctor to harbour and nurture young girls to have babies for sale,ββ the bishop said.
Chukwuma appealed to the state House of Assembly to speed up the passage of the Child Rights Bill to enable children to exercise their rights.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adaora Ozobu, urged the public to report any case of illegal adoption of babies to the ministry.
She also advised couples and individuals who adopted babies illegally to come and formalise the process with the ministry.
Enugu, Nigeria β The Enugu State Committee on Child Fostering and Adoption has expressed concern at the increasing rate of illegal adoption of babies in the state. Chairman of the committee, the Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, told reporters in Enugu on Wednesday that the most worrisome development was the way some hospitals sold babies in the name of adoption.
He alleged that some of the hospitals harboured young girls to have babies, which they in turn, sold out without passing through the right process of adoption.
The bishop said the committee had closed down some clinics that indulged in the act, while six girls had been arrested during inspection of the hospitals, alleging that some of the babies were used for ritual purposes.
He warned that the committee would not tolerate acts of indecency and child abuse, adding that it would take drastic action against any doctor or clinic that engaged in illegal adoption of babies.
βIt is illegal for a doctor to harbour and nurture young girls to have babies for sale,ββ the bishop said.
Chukwuma appealed to the state House of Assembly to speed up the passage of the Child Rights Bill to enable children to exercise their rights.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adaora Ozobu, urged the public to report any case of illegal adoption of babies to the ministry.
She also advised couples and individuals who adopted babies illegally to come and formalise the process with the ministry.
# posted by Senior Mom @ 7:45 AM 
