We pray for his safe returnONE can only but imagine the agony the family of one-day-old baby Ahmad is going through after he was snatched from the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Madina Sunday. If blame is to be laid at anyone's door, it appears from initial reports that the hospital's administration must take full responsibility. There appears to have been a serious breach of security. Several questions are now being asked: Why was nothing done when baby Ahmad's abductor was allegedly seen by nurses wandering around the hospital the night before? How did she get through security? Who was on duty at the ward when she went into the hospital room to snatch him? There are also question marks over the surveillance cameras in the corridors of the hospital. Who was operating it at the time? Was anyone watching what was going on? Aside from all this, our hearts must go out to the parents and family of little Ahmad. How many questions must they not have swirling around in their heads? Where is their little one now? Is he safe? Is he being cared for properly? Or is he not alive anymore? This is the worst nightmare of every parent – to have a child snatched away like this. We share their anguish. From all reports, it appears the authorities swung into action. A cordon was placed around the hospital by the police and visitors and patients were all checked. Roadblocks were also set up to search for him and his kidnapper. The hospital also started doing blood tests, to check whether he was swapped by mistake with another baby. However, there needs to be a serious inquiry into the hospital and its management. They have to be held responsible for any such incidents happening on their watch. In the meantime, we hope and pray little Ahmad is returned unharmed to his parents and family. __
