Rwanda National Police

Residents of Kinyandaro Village, Gasiza Cell in Busasamana Sector, Rubavu District came to the rescue on Tuesday when they saved the life of a newborn baby from a pit latrine.

The toddler had been thrown in the pit by the mother right after birth, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Innocent Gasasira, the Police spokesperson for the Western region, said.

“On Tuesday at about 2pm, Police in Busasamana received a phone call from residents of Kinyandaro Village reporting a woman, who had given birth and threw the baby in the nearby pit,” CIP Gasasira said.

It is alleged that the expecting mother left the house in the middle of the night, gave birth and threw the innocent newborn in the pit.

The mother, on return to the house about an hour later, told her young sister that as she was relieving herself when baby came out and fell into the pit.

“The mother’s little sister run out of the house immediately and called out neighbours for rescue. Luckily enough, residents, although they had also called in the Police at Busasamana Police station, they made all the efforts, destroyed the pit and retrieved the baby alive,” CIP Gasasira said.

“The baby and the mother were immediately taken to Busasamana health centre but later transferred to Gisenyi hospital for medication. The baby is doing okay and the mother, who had developed some complications due to unsafe birth, is also improving,” he added.

“We want to thank the emergency response by the residents to save the life of this innocent baby, but also the life of the mother, who was not in good condition,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing the “impact of community policing and neighborhood watch in particular in times of need.”

The mother is expected to be formerly charged for the crime when she’s medically cleared.