Fighting Female Infanticide—The Mercy Home Project

The Mercy Home

The Mercy Home is a home for abandoned babies located west of Madurai, which is one of the worst areas in Tamil Nadu for female infanticide. (Read more about the problem of female infanticide.) The Home rescues babies who would otherwise be killed. In addition to unwanted baby girls, they also receive babies who are abandoned because of birth defects, and occasionally they will receive a male baby abandoned by an unwed mother.

We work in co-ordination with local authorities and hospitals, who frequently pass babies on to us to take care of. Other babies are sometimes abandoned on roads near the Home where they can be found by staff. Occasionally, parents will come and voluntarily surrender their baby.

The Mercy Home arranges medical treatment and operations for the babies when necessary, through contacts with local hospitals. We are licensed to place babies in Indian adoptive families.

Our Involvement

In 2007, we entered into a partnership with The Mercy Home in order to help upgrade their facilities and provide better quality care for the surrendered and abandoned babies brought to the Home.

Many of the babies arrive in a very frail state, coming from poorly nourished mothers, often born prematurely and many abandoned in life-threatening circumstances, so unfortunately several die. Together with the Mercy Home overseers, we devised a strategy to try to reduce the death rate and give these frail infants the best possible chance at life.

Accomplishments so far:

Helped provide a generator to cope with the frequent power cuts, which were causing boils and severe heat rashes to the babies.
Organised building of staff wing
With the help of Minna and Arnold, and VAAKA, Finland, supplied hundred of nappies and nappy covers to improve hygiene, and many clothes, some specially made to fit the fragile babies. Also new sheets, towels and waterproof pads.
Provided training in basic sanitation and hygiene.
Bought a washing machine and baby bath with funds arranged by Minna and Arnold
Provided toys, baby walkers, baby bottles and changing pads.
Set up a pediatric ICU unit. This includes two incubators, and photo therapy light. Many thanks to Mrs. Hilkka.
Tiled the ICU
Tiled nursery.
Bought an ambulance to transport sick babies to the hospital.
Constructed covered area on roof to dry laundry during monsoons.
Separated the toddlers from the small babies to give them better care and attention. (See 'Lil Darlings.)