A newborn girl, named Natasha by hospital staff, was left behind at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital by her 27-year-old mother from Lusaka West. Hospital nurses discovered the baby had been abandoned the morning after her mother reportedly slipped away during the night shift. The infant was born on Friday, September 18, 2026, weighing 2.7 kilogrammes.
According to the hospital's Public Relations Officer, Nancy Malitoli, nurses only realised the mother was gone when they were unable to find her during the night shift. By the following morning, it was clear she had departed without her newborn. The hospital staff have been caring for Natasha, ensuring she receives the care she needs during this uncertain period.
The baby is in a very stable condition, and hospital staff have given her the name Natasha as they wait for the police to help in the investigation and location of her mother or their relatives. Nurses have taken turns feeding and attending to Natasha. The case has drawn strong reactions from the public, with many urging people not to rush to judgement over the mother's alleged decision.
Lusaka police confirmed they received a report from the hospital administration and are now following leads in an effort to trace the baby's mother or any known relatives. Natasha will remain at the hospital while the search is ongoing. Many people have expressed concern and sympathy for the mother, suggesting that she may have been struggling with postpartum depression or emotional challenges.
Some individuals have urged people not to judge the mother too harshly, citing the possibility that she may have been going through a difficult time. Chansa Kakolo Kapembwa wrote: "People are easily jumping into silly conclusions, ala women are going through a lot out there it could be mental, emotional or a financial challenge." Sharon J Wellingtons added that the mother may have been struggling emotionally after giving birth.
Not everyone was as sympathetic, however. Abigail Kasonde shared a different perspective, expressing her own inability to imagine leaving her child. The case has sparked a range of reactions online, highlighting the complexities of the situation. Meanwhile, hospital staff continue to care for Natasha.
This incident is not an isolated case, as there have been other instances of abandoned babies in the region. TUKO.co.ke previously reported on a newborn baby girl found abandoned in a carton near Ashar Forest in Konshisha LGA, Benue State. The discovery highlighted the urgent need for community intervention in protecting vulnerable children.
Key points
- The 3-day-old baby girl, named Natasha, was abandoned by her 27-year-old mother at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.
- Hospital staff have been caring for Natasha, and police are working to locate the mother or her relatives.
- The case has sparked a range of reactions online, with some people urging sympathy for the mother and others expressing shock and concern.
