Baby found abandoned in D’bantayan “critical”

CEBU, Philippines - A premature baby boy was found at the back of the house of a midwife in Barangay Maya, Daanbantayan early Thursday morning.

The baby, premature at 32 weeks, was found by the midwife's daughter placed inside a plastic bag.

Knowledge of such incident began when one Darryll Flint Beligaño posted a picture of the baby on the social media and addressed "politicians or anyone with a kind heart" to offer support.

The baby was then brought to Daanbantayan District Hospital where he was attached with dextrose and given antibiotics as initial medical attention since he was developing signs of infection.

The attending doctors evaluated the baby's condition and concluded that the baby should be brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for further treatment.

By Thursday evening, the baby was brought to VSMMC as referred by the district physicians.

Yesterday, a VSMMC official confirmed that the baby is now in their hospital and is in critical condition.

Dr. Antonio Roque Paradela, VSMMC chief of professional and medical staff, told The FREEMAN that the male infant is critically ill and is being attended at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

"We will continue to monitor the condition of the baby through medical examinations and laboratories," he said in an interview at VSMMC.

Paradela said the male infant is currently being incubated with mechanical ventilation that serves as oxygen support for the patient.

The doctor said VSMMC will provide the necessary medical care for the infant free of service.

"For now, the hospital's pediatricians will take care of the baby until his condition will be stable," said Paradela.

Moreover, VSMMC's Medical Social Services is closely coordinating with the social welfare office of the municipality of Daanbantayan to check if a family or relative of the infant has been located.

At the Capitol, Provincial Information's Officer Ethel Natera said there is no information yet as to who could have brought the baby to the banana grove at the back of the midwife's house.

Once the baby is in stable condition, he will be referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7, said Paradela.

The local government of Daanbantayan, under its program Aid for Individuals in Crisis Situation, is planning to give an initial P5,000 for the baby's needs through the Municipal Social Welfare Development Office. — (FREEMAN)