Breastfeeding mother forcibly separated from her baby.....again ;-(

[shonaspurtle]

This country is a disgrace

She was found sleeping rough with depression so they chucked her kids into care and stuck her in a detention centre. But it's ok because she's a failed asylum seeker.

this would drive any woman into depression, having to sleep rough with a newborn and a one year old? just having a newborn and a one year old is hard work without being homeless.
and then being separated from your children.
completly and utterly inhumane.
who was in charge of her natal care? they are the ones who should be locke up. she managed to keep the babies alive and healthy she was probly tandem feeding because i dount she was able to afford the facilities to be able to purree stuff for her toddler.
how awful. how completely and utterly awfu.

Asylum women, rather, refugees, are not entitled to either ante-natal, or post-natal, care.

They are entitled to free labour care - but some hospitals name them as 'foreign nationals' and charge them £8500 in advance of birth.

The little girl hasn't been breastfed - she was indeed keeping a 13 month old well fed and nourished on the streets - although she'd been in emergency accomodation for two weeks prior to being chucked out.

I just cannot believe this, it beggers belief

Great news that she is going to be released.

I am actually really struggling to imagine how horrific it was for her, I think my mind won't let me .

How on earth can anyone justify this? It's such a disgrace.

I'm not normally a MN backslapper, but Morgan, you've been wonderful, and Janipher is extremely lucky to have had your support and the support of others like you.

Sorry

labour care is natal care.
i am so stressed about this. i thought we were supposed to be living in a civilised country.
what sort of civilised country chucks out a mother with a newborn onto the streets? whether she is entitled to anything from social services isnt the point.

The thing that really gets me is why she's been refused asylum - has she been given a reason? She's the kind of person who just needs a chance to make of go of things, as she's been trying to do for 4 years! She's been shat on royally and I'm so ashamed.

I am over the moon that release has been granted.

I am short of cash at the moment, but have some baby clothes and equipment I would happily send if Janifer is in need of things.

We'll keep posted on things she'll need. It depends if Social Services in London ever find all her stuff. Apparently, they are supposed to store things if they evict you.

But no one, so far, has found a thing.

So she may be starting form scratch.

Rest assured, we'll keep everyone posted. :-)

Thank God for that morgangee! You have done so well.
But this is the thing; somebody thought they would be getting away with treating a vulnerable woman like scum. Shes nothing, they thought..shes not even allowed a shower. Who cares that shes just had a baby, and that theyve both been taken away, and that shes been living on the street, that shes bleeding from childbirth, that shes a child herself at 18. And most of all of course, the breastfeeding. I <span class="italic">dare</span> the media or anyone to trivialise what has happened to her. It is literally inhumane. I hope lawyers can clamp down really hard on the people who let this happen, and that they are held accountable for this. It doesnt change whats happened though. I just cant comprehend what this woman has been through. Like another poster said, its like my brain wont let me.

Is her asylum application being appealed?

I just can't believe this hasn't had wider coverage. It's a complete scandal and nobody cares. Seems like it's all pretty routine, nothing new.

What can be done to change the whole system rather than reacting to horrific events like this as and when they happen? We happen to have heard about this specific case - how much else is going on behind closed doors?

I have only just found this thread and was so glad when I got to the end and heard the good news.

Should we still be emailing our MP's and such regarding this matter. I would love to be able to do something about this.

Don't Stop Emailing And Protesting!

A few mometns after Janipher ws told byt he Home offie, that she was being released from Yarl's Wood... her chidlrne were called into the Dr's, to have their maleria treatmetns prior to being returned to Uganda.

Janipher told the dr she had it wrong, the plane was cancelled. The Dr replied there would be other planes, and the children must have their maleria treatments. Janipher refused.

Janipher is terrified they are going to let her out of Yarl's Wood, wait a couple of weeks for the fuss to die down, and remove her and the children before any more fuss can be made.

I've checked this can indeed happen.

So we must keep emailing the politicians. If you have emailed before, do so again, to both Tony Blair and Liam Byrne, thanking them for releasing Janipher, and asking for written clarification that she will be given leave to remain in this country. Make it clear that you will not go away, and neither will this protest, until the Home Office have said that Janipher is safe.

I'll do a bumb in a few moments with a URL for contact details.

morgangallagher.livejournal.com/92591.html

www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page821.asp

"Dear Mr Blair,

I'm writing to thank you for the recent Home Office decision to release Janipher Maseko from Yarl's Wood I.D.C.

This was a humane decision, that does much to prove that the UK Government is in touch with the will of the people who have elected it into power.

However, I am disturbed to discover that the same day she was informed she would be released, Ms Maseko was called to attend a medical meeting so that her children could be given anti-malaria treatment prior to their removal to Uganda. Ms Maseko was told by the Dr, that there are always more planes, and the children must be treated before they leave the UK

This is intolerable, and inhumane in the extreme. Not to mention against current medical guidelines, as her 4 week old son is too young to receive such treatment.

Whilst I understand this may have been an administrative oversight, it may also have reflected the fact that Ms Maseko has not been given formal leave to remain in the UK, with her children, and there are plans to have her removed in the near future.

Therefore, I am also writing to complain at this turn of events, and to ask you to ensure that this threat of subsequent removal is lifted: please instruct Liam Byrne to make it clear, in writing, that Ms Maseko will be allowed to remain in the UK indefinitely, We have damaged this young family enough, and we need to make amends.

Rest assured, that not one of us will rest, until Ms Maseko's legal status within the UK is secure. It would be a shame indeed, if the horror of how Ms Maseko has been treated by the UK authorities, was in all our minds as you leave office.

Looking for an early reply.... "

---

Liam Byrne MP, Minister for State for Nationality, Fax 0207 035 4745
Address: Citizenship & Immigration Home Office, 3rd Floor, Peel Building,
2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P DO [email protected]

""Dear Mr Byrne,

I'm writing to thank you for the recent your decision to release Janipher Maseko from Yarl's Wood I.D.C.

This was a humane decision, that does much to prove that the UK Government is in touch with the will of the people who have elected it into power.

However, I am disturbed to discover that the same day she was informed she would be released, Ms Maseko was called to attend a medical meeting so that her children could be given anti-malaria treatment prior to their removal to Uganda. Ms Maseko was told by the Dr, that there are always more planes, and the children must be treated before they leave the UK

This is intolerable, and inhumane in the extreme. Not to mention against current medical guidelines, as her 4 week old son is too young to receive such treatment.

Whilst I understand this may have been an administrative oversight, it may also have reflected the fact that Ms Maseko has not been given formal leave to remain in the UK, with her children, and there are plans to have her removed in the near future.

Therefore, I am also writing to complain at this turn of events, and to ask you to ensure that this threat of subsequent removal is lifted: please instruct your office to make it clear, in writing, that Ms Maseko will be allowed to remain in the UK indefinitely, We have damaged this young family enough, and we need to make amends.

Rest assured, that not one of us will rest, until Ms Maseko's legal status within the UK is secure.

Looking for an early reply.... "

---

Gordon Brown [email protected]

House of Commons Phone number: 020 7219 6345
House of Commons Fax number: 020 7219 5734
Constituency Phone number: 01383 611702
Constituency Fax number: 01383 611703

"Dear Mr Brown,

I am writing to ask you to intervene in the case of a young mother, facing removal to Uganda with her two babies. Ms Janipher Maseko, was recently removed from all contact with her breastfed son - by UK officials - when he was only 2 weeks old. Two weeks without him, even as her breasts burned with engorged milk. Her 13 month old daughter was also removed for this time. After much protest, the children were returned - the same day Ms Maseko was told they would be removed to Uganda on June 1st.

Yesterday, The Home Office announced they were releasing this family from Yarl's Wood IDC.

However, I have been disturbed to discover that Ms Maseko was subsequently called in to a medical meeting, so that her children could be given anti-malaria treatment prior to their removal to Uganda. Ms Maseko was told by the Dr, that there are always more planes, and the children must be treated before they leave the UK

This is intolerable, and inhumane in the extreme. Not to mention against current medical guidelines, as her 4 week old son is too young to receive such treatment.

Whilst I understand this may have been an administrative oversight, it may also have reflected the fact that Ms Maseko has not been given formal leave to remain in the UK, with her children, and there are plans to have her removed in the near future.

Therefore, I am writing to ask you to speak out for this family: if every child matters, have we not damaged Colin and Chantelle Maseko enough, without now leaving the entire family unsure of their status? How much more fear and injustice can we inflict on Janipher Maseko, with the threat of her family being removed at a moment's notice hanging over her?

Rest assured, that no one will rest, until Ms Maseko has been told officially that she has leave to remain in the UK indefinitely. I have written such to both the Prime Minister, and Liam Byrne. It would be a sad and sorry day indeed, if, as you took office, you also took on the shame of how we have treated Janipher Maseko and her babies.

Looking for an early reply...."

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This is horrific. I fear similar happens over here in Germany too. I will email.

Done and bump

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Done

I have only just seen this thread, and I am shocked to the core. I am really pleased that the poor lass is being released and has been reunited with her kids.

I will be honest and say I have skim read the thread itself although have read the articles from the paper, so I apologise if the question has already been raised. What difference does it make if the mother is breastfeeding or not ? Sorry but in my opinion, no mother should be seperated from her child(ren) regardless of the method of nutrition, regardless of 'legal status', regardless of nothing other than if the mother poses a real and immediate threat of danger to the kids.

Just my opinion !!!!

You're absolutely right. It wasn't that it would have been ok if she'd not been bf, it was that having to stop so suddenly meant she was in physical (as well as mental obv) pain and was given no help for that.

Also, if her milk had dried up and she'd been deported with her children she would have been left destitute in Nigeria with no means to buy formula and no guarantee that she would have the facilities to feed formula safely (ie sterilise bottles). If she had to be deported, bf her four week old son was the best option for him under the circumstances.

Just to let you know Morgangee, I'm cutting and pasting your posts and instructions on a blog allied to the BBC's Woman's Hour

Yes, no mother should be seperated from her child - we agree! However, a breastfed baby, and a bottle fed baby, eat differently. Different mouth and tongue structures are used. A bottle fed baby, can take a bottle from others - a breast fed baby does not know how to take a bottle, and can refuse. Babies have been known to be hospitalised and put on drips, as they refuse to eat unless from the mother's breast - it can endanger their lives.

Also, mother's milk is supply and demand - take the baby away, and neglect the mother (as happened) and the mother can lose her milk - and then the mother is having to formula feed without having done chosen to do so: it has been forced on her.

Also, babies who do get given bottles, can them 'forget' how to feed off the breast - and then refuse the breast when it is returned.

So, in terms of basic biology, seperating a breastfed baby from it's mother, is a serious infringement of the rights of both mother and child - especially if, like this case, it's for so long. That's why it's illegal to do so.

It's a miracle Janipher still had milk, and that Colin returned to the breast.

A mother choosing to formula feed is making a choice - a mother deprived of her baby at her breast, is having someone else's choice inflicted upon her, and the baby.