PNG group calls on government to take action over abandoned children
The founder of a charitable group in Papua New Guinea's capital says he is saddened by the number of children being abandoned and wants the government to take action.
Transcript
The founder of a charitable group in Papua New Guinea's capital says he is saddened by the number of children being abandoned and wants the government to take action.
Father John Glynn, who began a foundation for women and children at risk, says it is not uncommon for babies to be abandoned, given away, or sold in the marketplace.
Father Glynn says poverty, shame and a lack of education are the key drivers behind the social issue.
He told Amelia Langford the government needs to invest more in social services, which are underfunded and not equipped to deal with abandoned children.
JOHN GLYNN: These stories crop up periodically in our newspapers. There have been stories from the highlands. And one of our staff in our care group was recently offered a baby for 50 kina, $25 perhaps. She was offered a baby for that amount in one of our local markets here in the city. It is said that at the natal ward at our general hospital here in Port Moresby one can quite often pick up a baby for nothing, that a young mother desperately needing to get rid of a baby 'cause she's unable to look after it and probably too young herself. So these stories crop up all the time. And it's difficult to get statistics because there doesn't seem to be any data.
AMELIA LANGFORD: What department would hold such data, do you think?
JG: Well, our social services comes under the department for community development. And it's the most underfunded department in government here in Papua New Guinea, 'cause it is responsible for all aspects of social welfare. We're still a growing country. There's tonnes of compassion and concern here - no shortage of that - and a great sense of frustration with many officers of the department in the social welfare occupation. But there isn't a great deal that we can do. We don't have the infrastructure that you would have in New Zealand or in any other developed country.
AL: What would you like to see the government do?
JG: Well, I'd like to see them invest their money in social welfare. I'd like to see them supporting the kind of agencies who can actually act and help in these areas. I'd like to see the churches becoming involved with government help and support.
AL: What do you think happens to some of these babies that are abandoned? What sort of fate do they have?
JG: Well, there are always people ready to take them, to accept them. I know so many people who would be so happy to accept one of these babies. So they're not unwanted. The machinery is not there to assist people to adopt and the machinery is not there either to keep a watch on these babies. Once they're handed over officially or unofficially to a family that's willing to accept them they're lost sight of after that.
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