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.
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.
Can you sponsor any of these items?
• Fly screens for nursery and staff quarters
• Educational toddler toys
Please follow this link for a complete list of needs for the Home. »
