By Surihe Gaomas WINDHOEK A newly born baby girl became the latest in the growing number of statistics of child dumping emanating from unwanted pregnancies. The two-day old baby was dumped at the Moria Grace Children’s Shelter in Katutura on Thursday evening of last week. Holding the newly born baby girl in her arms, head of the shelter Wilhelmine Afrikaaner said the mother, who is said to be in her late twenties, allegedly wanted to kill the baby after she discovered that the man with whom she had a one-night stand was married. “She told me I will kill the baby if I keep it, because I did not know the man was married. It was not a planned baby,” explained Afrikaaner, narrating the sad tale to a New Era news team yesterday, adding that the mother also hid her pregnancy well by wearing oversized T-shirts to work. It is reported that nobody really knew that she was pregnant. The name of the young mother is not known. The woman however is said to be from the Kalkrand area in the Hardap Region. It turns out that when she discovered that she was pregnant, she also attempted to drink chemicals. But she delivered a normal birth at the Katutura Clinic last week. However, Afrikaaner said although the baby girl is healthy, the effects of the chemicals had a negative impact on her, leaving behind clearly visible rashes that at times itch and turn reddish in colour. According to reports, the young mother learned about Moria Grace Children’s Shelter through articles in newspapers and television. She decided to dump the baby at the shelter. The centre caters mostly for hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children. “She did not even want to breastfeed the child and just handed her over to me,” said Afrikaaner, adding that many of the close to 500 children at the shelter have gone through similar tragic experiences. Ironically the baby’s name is “Uitani” which means “I will survive” in the Damara/Nama language, and despite the tragic circumstances of her birth, Afrikaaner believes that the baby girl was meant to be a survivor. “Look she’s so healthy and beautiful. I will bring her up as if she’s my own,” said Afrikaaner with an affectionate smile. Sitting next to her was a baby boy who’s been at the shelter for the past six weeks now. “This boy was just dumped at the gate with a bottle in his mouth and I want to know who the mother of this child is and for her to give reasons why she dumped him,” she said. Afrikaaner is requesting help from good Samaritans in the form of disposable nappies, milk and baby clothes for Uitani’s upkeep. She can be contacted at cell phone number: 081270 5370. Meanwhile, the already overcrowded shelter with close to 500 orphans and vulnerable children is expected to move to much bigger premises next to Augeikhas Primary School in Katutura this year.