Ayu was unable to breastfeed, as drugs were detected in both her and the baby’s blood tests. She admitted to having used drugs earlier in her pregnancy, unaware that she was pregnant at the time. Due to her immigration status, Ayu had no access to rehabilitation services in Hong Kong and was asked to relinquish custody to local authorities—a prospect she was determined to avoid.
Local authorities contacted the Indonesian Consulate urging that Ayu’s baby be sent back to Indonesia to be cared for by her family. However, Ayu’s family, especially her mother, strongly rejected the idea, adding to Ayu’s distress and fear.
PathFinders’ case worker stepped in as a mediator, organizing meetings with the authorities and helping Ayu apply for her baby’s birth certificate and passport through the Indonesian Consulate. After lengthy discussions, it was decided the baby would be repatriated to Indonesia through a government-to-government arrangement and placed under the care of Sentra Handayani, an organization registered with Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs.
On August 30, Ayu’s baby was safely transferred to Sentra Handayani, where he is now receiving dedicated care. Weekly updates from the caregivers keep Ayu connected to her child as she continues rehabilitation in Hong Kong, hopeful for a reunion with him in the near future.
