MOTHER WANTED TO KILL ABNORMAL CHILD

The New Vision 30th July
A MOTHER who gave birth to a baby with deformed legs and arms, wanted to kill it but her ideas were blocked.

Catherine Awili, 35, a resident of Gulonger village in Abim district, delivered the baby boy on Saturday.

But the Morulem sub-county LC3 chairman, Sam Okello, intervened in time and told her she would be charged with murder.

"I wanted to kill it because I never expected it. I don't really deserve it. People will fear me. I have never seen such a thing in my life," Awili said on Monday.
She had brought the baby to Morulem Health Centre for immunisation. Awili added that she did not deliver normally.

"I was not ready because I did not feel labour pains. I woke up on Friday as usual," she explained, adding that the baby came out when she was in a pit-latrine, easing herself.

Abim LC5 chairman Norman Ochero encouraged the mother to take care of the baby, promising help.
"Take care of the boy. Nothing can stop it from surviving, because God will help both of you."

The officer in charge of the health centre, Agnes Monu, attributed the baby's condition to drug abuse by mothers in early pregnancy.
"These mothers sometimes buy drugs from shops and use them without prescription."
Monu added that the child's eyes and ears were healthy and that its chances of survival were high.