Akeem to be placed in children's home
Stabroek News
March 14, 2003

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Six-year-old Akeem Trotman, the boy found begging on a city street last month is still in the Georgetown Public Hospital but will be placed in a home once he is well.

Akeem was found begging in front of Banks DIH Indus-trial Site not far from his home. He was brought to this newspaper by a public spirited citizen, without shoes and looking malnourished.

Stabroek News took the child to the hospital and after some initial reluctance the administration had him admitted. He now receives a steady stream of visits from persons who were touched by his story.

A senior probation officer attached to the Ministry of Human Services & Social Security says Akeem is doing "well" and they are monitoring his condition.

The child's mother had indicated that she was unable to care properly for the child who is ill and needs special care.

She has two other children and is expecting a fourth and stated that she would not mind if the authorities were to place the child in a home where she could visit him.

The probation officer says Akeem has put on some weight and is feeling much better. "And since the mother cannot handle him we have decided to put him in a home and we are working on that."

The female officer says a home would be approached once Akeem is well enough. "We want him to remain in the hospital until he is much better, so we are leaving him there."

In the meantime the ministry is working with Akeem's mother to help her take better care of her children.

The single mother works in the day and leaves her children at home with no adult supervision

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