Infant boy, protected by stray dogs, found in trash bin of Rampur district hospital

RAMPUR: Days after a six-month-old baby girl was found abandoned in a garbage dump along a highway in Moradabad, a newborn boy was found in another garbage bin, this time at the district hospital here on Saturday morning. An ambulance driver heard the baby crying and immediately alerted hospital authorities.
According to officials, the newborn was found naked in the cold, surrounded by a pack of stray dogs.“They had been guarding the baby, who was still connected to its umbilical cord,” said Zubair Khan, the ambulance driver who found the infant.
Rushed immediately to the Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of the hospital, the baby is undergoing treatment at present. The baby weighed just a little above 2kg.
Dr B C Saxena, senior consultant paediatrician said, “The infant is in poor health. When he was brought here, his respiratory system was weak and his heart was also not functioning properly because he had been exposed to the cold. His temperature was below normal. We have put him on artificial respiration and on oxygen.”
“Now he is improving, and it is really a miracle that a newborn, abandoned naked in the garbage heap in such cold weather has survived. I believe he has a strong immune system and he is struggling to survive,” Saxena added.
The baby was found just a few metres from the police check post inside the hospital. Head constable Amrish Kumar, posted at the hospital check post said, “When the infant was found, we were getting ready to join duty. Later, doctors informed us about the matter and we have informed the higher authorities about it.”
Rampur Child Welfare Committee president Sarika Goyal said, “We have been informed by the authorities that a baby was found at the hospital. As soon as he is medically fit, he will be shifted into the nursery of the orphanage.”
Meanwhile, Rampur district hospital authorities have not yet taken any action in the matter. The hospital’s chief medical superintendent, Dr RK Dhal said, “We can’t comment on the matter because it falls under the purview of the CMS of district women’s hospital.”
Dr Amita Sharma, CMS of district women’s hospital told TOI over the phone, “I am out of town at present and can’t comment on the matter.”