I WANT TO SELL MY CHILD

On the 2nd of February 2010, at the Social Centre of International NGO working for children in Lagos, I was discussing with the Head Project about the case of a house maid who abandoned her two day old baby in care of her “madam” and fled. It is more than thirteen years ago, she never looked back and the girl has grown up to become a pain in the neck now. We were deliberating on steps to explore when a young woman came in with a child who is about six months old, she said I want to sell my child, I was taken aback, and it was so strange and different from what I usually hear women say, like I want to sell my gold or used clothing material. I excused her and walked out of the office in order to allow her some privacy with the Project Head. In the long run I learnt that she needed some money for rent and feeding.

The Project Head wanted to assist her with some baby formula after a long discussion and counseling but there was none readily available and she bought some local corn paste for her, and her personal data were recorded to allow further follow up. I felt so sad and could not contain my sadness but the woman in charge looked at me and laughed, she said, “this is what we encounter daily, the case of a woman looking for an established institution to sell her baby Is better than those who would deliberately sell these babies to ritual killers”.

Inasmuch as I have decided to stop complaining and start working to help the few women and Children I can assist, several unanswered questions robbed me of my sleep and I decided to share this ugly experience with my online family members here. Is it that these women selling their children do not feel any bonding towards these little innocent beings, how can one sell a child to take care of the rest? Is this even different from those who sell their children into prostitution? Will there be a time when mothers will place their children as wares in our markets if this situation persists? I want to support women and children where do I start from?

The world knows the statistics and percentage of poverty level in the developing, but do they know what these poor ones are eating or indulging into in order to have their two square meals?