A 24-year-old woman of Messengers area in Solwezi district Lydia Pandao has appealed to the government and well-wishers to help take care of a four-year-old minor allegedly neglected due to her disability.

Ms. Pandao says government and other well-wishers should move in quickly to aid the neglected minor living with disability.

She discloses that she learned of this when she met the mother of the minor while on business in Mapopo area within Solwezi district.

She told ZANIS in an interview that after business, the mother Etty Dinala invited her to her place only to find a child living with disability isolated at home.

It was upon this that she ( Pandao )  insisted on taking the minor to the nearest hospital but the mother refused saying  her infant was fine but  merely bewitched.

Upon insistence, the infant was found with severe malnutrition and edema and was thereafter hospitalised for more than a month until her health improved.

” The mother refused to be taking care of the child while she was hospitalised even when she was discharged she refused to go home with her I had to go home with her and my parents were kind enough to accommodate her,” she said

Ms Pandao  stressed that the child needs a safe place to avoid further trauma which  will affect the child’s health.

” When I took her to the hospital she was in poor health she could not sit or try to interact because she was being left in the house alone but after seeking medical attention she has greatly improved she can sit,use her hands and do other things,” she noted 

On Dinala’s part it is basically due to her financial hitches that has made it difficult to take care of her child apart from other children she has who she said equally need her support.

” The child is used to Lydia because she is taking good care of her and she should continue,” she said 

And the Social Welfare Officer Mutale Chileshe who visited the child’s mother counselled her on the dangers of neglecting a child.

” It’s against the law to neglect a child because she has a disability,  she needs  the same love and care that you give to her siblings, ” she said

Ms Chileshe said the child cannot be kept by Lydia has she is not eligible to adopt  the child due to her age and financial status.

” This child needs you and we will be coming to check on her welfare,” she charged

Ms Chileshe has encouraged Ms Dinala who is a social cash transfer beneficiary to use the money to start up a business to help sustain her livelihood.

” We give you that money to help you and the family it is not for you alone, the money should be used prudently so that you cushion the challenges you face,” noted.