The baby’s mother identified as Nwaedoka Chidimma from Izzi in Ebonyi State, had on Sunday reportedly dumped the child in the pit toilet immediately after his birth in Otuocha community, the Anambra East Local Government Area, where she had gone to carry out a farming job.
After the baby was rescued by residents who heard his cries and alerted security agencies and officials of the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, he was taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, for medical attention.
Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Assistant to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, disclosed the news of the baby’s death to journalists on Thursday.
Ikeanyionwu stated that the news of the baby’s death was received late on Wednesday after treatment commenced at the hospital.
“All efforts to resuscitate the baby including administration of oxygen and fluids with cardiopulmonary resuscitation by the hospital proved abortive,” she said.
The wife of the state governor, Nonye Soludo, who also reacted to the incident, described the action of the baby’s mother as “inhumane and distraught”, noting that as a mother, she felt the pains of having to deal with such news.
Her reaction was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Awka, on Wednesday, by her media aide, Daniel Ezeigwe.
The governor’s wife said she was praying for the full recovery of the baby and was looking forward to visiting him, adding that the news of his death shook her heart.
