A 26-year-old woman from Arusha, Tanzania, is devastated after her newborn was allegedly switched at the hospital where she gave birth.
Neema Kirugala welcomed her baby via Caesarean section (C-section) at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital. Doctors initially informed her that her child was healthy, weighing 3.1 kg. However, when she regained consciousness after the surgery, she was handed a baby wrapped in unfamiliar shawls.
Confused, Neema questioned the nurse, who took the baby away, promising to return with the correct one. Instead, she was later told that her newborn had been placed in an incubator—an explanation that didn’t make sense to her, given that her baby had been declared healthy at birth.
The next morning, Neema was given a different baby, who appeared darker-skinned and weighed only 2.2 kg. She also noticed that the infant lacked the distinctive birthmarks she had seen on her child.
Heartbroken, she refused to accept the baby, but tragically, the infant later passed away at the hospital.
Neema is convinced that her baby was swapped and has demanded answers from the hospital. Meanwhile, hospital management has confirmed that the case is under police investigation but has refrained from making further comments.
The shocking incident has sparked outrage on social media, with many calling for the arrest and prosecution of the hospital staff involved. Neema continues to seek justice, holding onto hope that she will be reunited with her real child.
