Rafael

Here is another sad story from Amecet: Rafael came back the other day. He came the first time in July 2010, when he was 2 weeks old. His mother is mentally ill and even his grandmother is a mental case. His uncle brought him that time and took him back after 3 months of stay. Later we heard that the great grandmother now looked after Rafael. Two weeks ago we met Rafael and the great grandmother in the feeding center in the hospital. I hardly recognized him. I was shocked, where was the little cute baby Amecet had sent home?!?

Amecet asked if the grandmother could ask the uncle to come for a meeting. And today he came, together with another clan member. There are a lot of problems in the family. And nobody wants to care for Rafael. They found his father, he was put in jail, but got out, now they want to sue him and let him pay for all their expenses had for Rafael. Clearly they didn't spend much though! Amecet called the Probation officer (child protection) and had a long talk with them. Next week they will go to Katakwi where the family is from, and have a talk with the father. The family of the mother can not use him to make money and the father needs to take on his responsibility. Rafael will stay in Amecet till everything is settled and also until he is healthy again. His weight is only 4.7 kg. They have to put a sock on his hand, because he was biting himself there all the time. So sad!

Cathrine, on the right is one week older than Rafael but weighs 2 kg more and can sit up by herself.