OPERATORS OF ILLEGAL MATERNITY HOMES IN ENUGU STATE RISK JAIL TERMS

 Establishment and running of illegal maternity home in Enugu State will henceforth be treated as child trafficking and those involved prosecuted.

The Chairman of the State Committee on Child Adoption, Most Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma gave the warning while briefing newsmen in Enugu.

He stated that the committee was out to ensure that the issue of illegal maternity home was eliminated and urged members of the public to report anyone involved in such act to the State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development for appropriate action.

“The State will not tolerate any baby factory. Let people be warned, let the public be warned that anywhere we get baby factory,  with the Civil Defence, Police and NAPTIP, we are going to track down that place and make sure that whoever is involved will be dealt with according to the law.”…He warned

While commending the State Governor for his support to the Committee and the legislators for the passage of the Child Rights bill in the State, Most Reverend Chukwuma who is the Archbishop, Enugu Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of Enugu, Anglican Communion advised those with unexpected pregnancies to approach the Ministry for proper guidance rather than engaging in illegal adoption.

The eighteen member Committee on Child Adoption is made up of Commissioners for Justice, Information, Health and the Police as well as top clergy among others.

SARAH CHIWENITE