The child of a mentally challenged woman

Unlike some parts of the world where mentally retarded individuals are confined to a mental asylum and being care for. In my own territory, it's a common sight to behold the deranged roaming about in the open from time to time.

Thank you 🙏

The government had failed to make a law that would promote the rehabilitation of such citizens. By the way, they have often ignored the larger sane population, talkless of the insane.

Citizens who can afford to check a deranged loved one into a mental home are usually higher up in the social ladder. While other households that don't have the resources are left with no other option than to allow that particular family member to wander about and consequently, his/her situation gets worse.

Some years ago, when I was still in high school, there was this popular mad woman that I sometimes see roaming around at the market. No one thinks much about such people you know. But months later, I observed that she was pregnant! Infact It looked as if she had been pregnant for more then seven months.

It's quite unconcievable to imagine that a sane individual instead of having empathy on her got her pregnant . Well, who ever that person was, I seriously wanted to believe that he was a mentally challenged fellow too.

But what do I know? I have heard true stories of some evil ones who had committed more barbaric acts in order to fulfill a spiritual obligation. It could be in the form of an occultic duty required in order to replenish their wealth, accomplish a political aspiration or a business goal . Nigerians who are also reading this wouldn't be more surprised.

Whenever I make a visit to the market and had completed my purchases, I made deliberate movements from one portion of the market to the other, scanning through the thick crowd, in the hope of getting a glimpse of this mentally unstable but pregnant lady before going home.

And finally, I get to see her. she sits on the exposed roots of a tree, looking very dirty, tired, hungry, unloved and uncared for . Sometimes I can't help dropping a teae or two at such a heartbreaking sight.

Once in a while, a passer-by would toss a loaf of bread at her and immediately she d pick it up and ate with a very greedy mein. And as soon as she gains some strength, she'd pick her self up once again and with barefoots, she continues to roam about the market in this heavily pregnant state.

I can't but wonder how she feels being pregnant. Was she really aware of the pregnancy? Even if she is, does she realizes the importance and seriousness of her condition?

For God sake this lost soul needed all the help and attention she could get. The child in her needed it most. But it looked as if everyone was scared to come so close. A folk with instability could spontaneously turn violent you know.

In my parts of the world, it is believed that if a mad person sinks their teeth into one's skin, then one could also turn mad as quickly. Ofcourse, this is a silly myth which was only good for frightening kids. Maybe the people around just decided to ignore her since she wasn't part of their problem.

I also couldn't help but imagine that the man who got her pregnant might also be amongst the crowd. At themoment, he was probably joining the others in hauling invectives at the "man" responsible for this. Wonders they say, shall never end.

No need to mention that even the police wouldn't even bother about looking for the person who had taken advantage of the vulnerable woman.

Weeks later,I heard that she had a successful delivery at the market place and she was offered all the assistance and support that any other woman in labor would get. I also learnt that she gave birth to a baby girl and she was as lovely as any other newborn. Reminds me of some folks that travel abroad to enjoy the best medical facility just to have a similar baby.

Well, isn't God so wonderful? This was a woman that fed on rubbish, sometimes remained hungry for days. Spent her nights in the open, exposed to the ferocious cold, mosquitoes and rats. She never went for any hospital check-up they pregnant women usually go for through out the duration of their pregnancy. But she gave birth with little difficulties, and as quickly as possible.

A woman in the market whom I usually patronizled later revealed to me that this was not the first time she had been pregnant. She had already given birth three times in the past, in thesame mental condition. She said she won't be surprised if she sees her with another pregnancy anytime soon.

Out of curiosity, I asked about the whereabouts of her children and she immediately replied that she didn't know. No one knows who takes them away from her anytime they were born. It could be anybody from the father of the child, the woman's relatives or a good Samaritan.

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Thank you for staying with me ♥️♥️♥️