JEDDAH, 5 May 2004 — An 18-month-old baby was found wrapped in a sheet and placed in a dumpster at the gates of the Maternity and Children’s Hospital in Jeddah five months ago. His skull was fractured and he was in a coma. Doctors also found burns, whipping welts and other wounds on his body.
“He sustained abuse for months before being knocked unconscious. His parents must have thought he was dead and dumped him here,” said Fadia Enani, director of the social services department at the hospital.
While the baby was being treated, the hospital reported the case to police, Health Affairs and the municipality.
A DNA test was carried out and ads were placed in the newspapers for the public to identify the child and for someone to come claim him, but no one did.
Two days ago, he was handed to the Social Affairs administration with a new name and birth certificate, to be raised as an orphan in one of its facilities. Although he has recovered well for the most part, his head injury has affected the use of his right side and his speech.
Another infant is frequently admitted to the hospital with signs of physical abuse and is checked out by the father against medical advice, but the hospital has been powerless to intervene.
The last time the two-year-old was brought to the hospital he suffered a head trauma which affected his mental development.
Another baby was admitted with dehydration and malnutrition. The parents are poor and have a dozen children, and this one was simply neglected.
An endless stream of children are admitted with cigarette burns, iron burns, heated wire marks and the effects of sitting on hot coal.
These are some of the cases the Maternity Hospital in Jeddah deals with. “There is more awareness now of child abuse, but more is needed to educate the families of their rights and obligations, how to seek help and ways to protect them,” Enani said.
There is also a lack of coordination between the different agencies involved in child abuse. Insufficient information and lack of clear procedures are other obstacles hampering an effective approach.
Only rarely is immediate action taken to protect a child. One such case was of a young girl who was severely abused by her stepmother. The birth mother filed a complaint through the hospital, which had a file of the girl and sent a report to the municipality. A decision was made within two days to grant custody to the birth mother.
Usually, however, a report is filed by the social services department to the hospital’s director, who in turn writes a report to Social Affairs and a letter to the police requesting investigation. With that, the hospital’s role is over and the matter is in the hands of the authorities.
Before any action is taken, more reports are filed all the way up the ladder of administrators. From there, perhaps more reports are required to the municipality and the courts until a final decision can be made.
“There is a reaction from society and the authorities and a desire to know the extent of the problem,” Enani said. “But we need a strategy and a mechanism to handle these cases practically.”
A recent conference on child abuse recommended that the Ministry of the Interior formulate a rapid action plan to deal with the growing problem. It should also emphasize creating a positive environment in school and at home, the conference recommended.
