Due to the tightening of regulations regarding children in care in Sierra Leone, we are now only allowed to take babies and children refered from Government or award of court unless for temporary respite.

While this is good as it gives some control over unsrupulous organsitions using orphanages as front for child trafficing - a big problem in Sierra Leone - however, it can lead to delays in us getting to and rescuing the very vulerable babies.

We had a new admission recently through Ministry of Social Welfare. The baby, called Emmanuala, is 2 months old, the mother had five previous babies, all have died.

She is unable to breast feed Emmanuala and so instead, through ignorance was giving her ORS instead of baby milk.

ORS is Oral Rehydration Salts which is normally given to replace body fluids and salts as a result of diarrhoea, however, it is very dangerous to give it to a very young baby in the same quanitiy as for milk.

The husband abandoned them because of the history of deaths. The baby is now taking formula milk and she is doing well.