ABU DHABI – Filipina mother leaves her baby boy in the hospital, fearing that she will be put to jail as the baby is born out of wedlock.
The baby, who was named as Sebastian, was left at the Universal Hospital for nine months now ever since her mother flew back to her hometown in the Philippines.
Dr Essam Ali, a senior quality manager at University Hospital in Abu Dhabi, is planning a trip to the Philippines to find a way to adopt the child. Image Source – The National
The embassy and his doctors were trying to consider adoption as an option as a means of building a brighter future to the baby.
“We couldn’t leave the baby so we took on the responsibility and have been caring him for the last nine months,” said the managing director and founder of the hospital Dr. Shabeer Nelikode.
According to the hospital staff, the Filipina was on her final stage of labor when she was brought to the hospital. After delivery, the baby was brought to the ICU because of birth complications.
During that time, the mother could not present an insurance documents. She later explained that she still needs to leave the hospital to arrange their hospital bills. But she never returned.
After some time, the hospital staff found out that the woman was already married in the Philippines but she was impregnated by another man in Abu Dhabi.
The Abandoned Baby whose Hospital Give the name as Sebastian – Image Source The National
Hospital staff already approached the Philippine Embassy, said Dr. Essam Ali, senior quality manager.
“We approached the Philippines embassy in Abu Dhabi but they told us that the mother is not interested in the baby,” Dr. Ali said.
However, the hospital is kind enough to allocate a room for the child, which has a bed, sofa, toys, swing and a full time nurse to take care of the child. Everything was covered by the hospital.
There are several hospital staff who already showed their interest to adopt the child, but unfortunately, both Philippines and UAE have strict adoption process.
The kind doctor visits the baby boy every day.
“The lady left behind the baby and escaped from the country. She was afraid that her husband would come to know about the baby and this would jeopardize their marriage,” said Dr. Ali, an Egyptian who have stayed in Abu Dhabi for 20 years.
Before the mother escaped, hospital staff asked for her passport copy, and marriage certificate. But to no avail, she could not present any. Without it, the hospital cannot produce a birth certificate.
Dr. Ali is kind enough to find ways to adopt the child. He is planning to travel to the Philippines in hopes of adopting the child.
“There is a lengthy procedure for adoption in Philippines as well, but I will go there to work through legal channels,” he said. “If the mother refuses to take the baby, this allows other to adopt legally.
Dr. Ali has a wife and a teenage son according to The National
Officials from the Philippine embassy has issued a passport for the child, after months of negotiation. Still, the child needs a legal clearance so the child can travel outside UAE.
“We can’t give any details as to what we are doing about the baby, as the investigation is ongoing,” said the Philippine Embassy.
