16/11/2025
Public Statement on the Abduction of a Six-Day-Old Baby from Grand Gedeh Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital
Issued by Human Equality Concern (HECO)
Date: November 16, 2025
Location: Zwedru City / Grand Gedeh County, Liberia
Human Equality Concern (HECO) expresses deep alarm and profound sadness over the reported abduction of a six-day-old baby from the Grand Gedeh Martha Tubman Memorial Hospital at approximately 2:00 AM. This deeply disturbing incident represents a serious breach of the security and protection that healthcare facilities are obligated to provide to all patients, particularly newborns and mothers.
We unequivocally condemn this act and extend our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity to the affected family during this unbearable time of fear and emotional distress. No parent should ever endure such trauma, especially within the very institution entrusted with safeguarding life.
This incident raises urgent concerns regarding lapses in hospital security and administrative oversight. As an organization committed to promoting human rights, equality, and community welfare, HECO emphasizes that every healthcare facility has a duty of care to ensure the safety, dignity, and protection of those they serve. The disappearance of a newborn from within a hospital signifies a critical failure in that duty.
HECO calls on the hospital administration to fully cooperate with the Liberia National Police and all relevant authorities. We urge the administration to immediately strengthen its internal security structures, including:
1. ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
2. ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.
3. ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
4. ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
We further call on the Liberia National Police and community members to prioritize this case and work collaboratively to locate the baby and hold the perpetrator(s) accountable. The safety of children and mothers must be treated as a national priority.
HECO remains committed to advocating for stronger protections in healthcare institutions across Liberia and stands ready to support efforts aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
Our thoughts remain with the family, and we join the people of Grand Gedeh and the nation in hoping for the swift and safe return of the newborn.
๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป (๐๐๐๐ข)