‘Motherless, Abandoned Babies’ Homes Help Reduce Domestic Violence’

Clement Danhutor

Motherless and abandoned babies Homes were built by the government in Lagos and other states in Nigeria to help reduce the predicament of domestic violence and also save the lives of the orphaned children, catering for and protecting them against exploitation and inhuman treatment.

This explanation was made by the acting Matron of the Motherless and Abandoned Babies Home, of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Ms Taiwo Idowu, while speaking with THISDAY during a recent visit to the Home, which is located at Makoko Yaba, Lagos State.

According to Idowu, “As an orphan child in this life, it’s difficult to live and excel, when living with guardian without facing domestic violence, because no one can be like biological parent to these children.
“This children are brought here (MABH) by social workers of Lagos state, It’s not the responsibility of we workers here to adopt the children to anyone, but to take proper care of them.

“It’s our role to take proper care of the children as our own biological children, not discriminating against them, because they are not our own biological children. Likewise, the way we treat our children is the same way we treat them, we know the right time to feed the children, taking them to hospital when they are sick, bathing them, washing their clothes and also we have creche, Nursery and Primary schools here in the compound built by Coca-Cola company for the children last year”, she added.

According to her, individuals, churches, NGOs, and some companies and associations like MTN, Airtel, First Bank, and Fidelity Bank are donating items and cash for the children at the Home.

“There are some donors also who do not want their names to be mentioned, but we thank them also, not to forget that there are some internship students from University of Lagos (Unilag), that made donations for the children also”, Idowu added.

Meanwhile, the branch secretary of the Motherless and Abandoned Babies Home of Nigeria Red Cross Society, Lagos, Mr. Olakunle Lasisi, also expressed his gratitude to all the donors for their financial and emotional support for the children, who looked well-catered for during the visit by THISDAY.