A month-old baby girl, born under life-threatening conditions to mentally ill parents in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, has found a safe haven at the Mother of Mercy Babies Home in Sirigu.
The child was officially admitted to the foster home on Friday, September 19, 2025, after social welfare verification and police clearance. The move followed weeks of hardship in Zanlerigu, where the baby lived in a hut with her mentally ill teenage mother, Mercy Saah, and her frail grandmother, Bugre Tii.
The decision to relocate the baby was influenced by four key factors: Mercy’s inability to recognise or care for the child, her recurrent epileptic seizures, her refusal to breastfeed, and her grandmother’s inability to financially sustain the family.
Notably, the name of the orphanage, Mother of Mercy Babies Home, echoes the mother’s own name, Mercy, in what caregivers describe as “a sign of fate.”
A Troubled Beginning
Mercy, who has battled mental illness since birth, delivered the baby through a caesarean section at the Upper East Regional Hospital on August 21, 2025, after complications during labour. Despite her fragile condition, she was discharged with little understanding of her role as a mother.
According to health workers, she often ignored the baby’s cries, while her grandmother who survives from a small backyard garden struggled to keep both mother and child alive.
Midwife’s Intervention
The plight of the family first came to public light through Lydia Ayine, a compassionate midwife at the Zanlerigu Health Centre. Deeply moved during her routine visits, she began supporting the family with her own resources and later shared their story online to draw public attention.
Her advocacy attracted some support, including a donation of baby items and cash from Nabdam’s Member of Parliament, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane. However, the aid remained inconsistent and insufficient, prompting the final decision to transfer the baby to Sirigu.
Ayine and her supervisor, Sylvia Mbora, personally contributed GH¢400 as advance payment for the child’s care at the orphanage, where it costs GH¢30 per month to support each child.
The Road Ahead
At her new home, the baby is assured of regular feeding, healthcare, and protection. Meanwhile, Mercy has been placed on family planning to prevent another pregnancy, while she continues to live with her grandmother in dire conditions.
The baby’s story has been described by locals as a journey “from risk to rescue,” highlighting the importance of community care for vulnerable families.
Health officials and caregivers have called on the public to extend further support not only for the baby but also for Mercy and her grandmother, who remain in urgent need.
