Police have launched an investigation after a newborn baby girl was found abandoned in a cardboard box at the side of a road in South Oropouche on Thursday.The infant’s mother has since been identified, and the Children’s Authority is now involved in the case, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) stated in a media release last evening.The baby, who is about four days old, was found in good health, with no physical signs of harm, police were told by hospital officials who examined her.According to the TTPS release, a 23-year-old Spanish national was walking along St Mary’s Road, near South Oropouche Government Primary School, around 12.15 p.m. when she observed a cardboard box at the side of the road.She heard a baby crying and, upon checking the box, found the newborn inside a black plastic bag.The naked infant was wrapped in a blanket and still had her umbilical cord attached.The woman took the baby to the home of a 47-year-old man in the area. Together, they transported the infant to the Oropouche Police Station, arriving approximately 12.30 p.m., police stated.Police officers placed a diaper on the baby and took her to the Point Fortin Area Hospital for medical attention. Police said no bruises or scratches were observed on the baby.The newborn was subsequently taken to a medical institution for assessment and treatment, and the Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago was contacted.“The mother of the infant has since been identified, and an investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the TTPS stated.Detectives of the Oropouche Police Station are continuing investigations.Contacted yesterday, Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe said the baby was clinically well at this time and receiving all required medical interventions.He said a medical social worker and the Children’s Authority were also assisting in the matter.Parents, caregiversfacing challengesMeanwhile, the Children’s Au­thority said yesterday it recognised that parents and caregivers were facing challenging situations.In a release, the authority sta­ted that support was available, and appealed to people to seek assistance rather than abandon their children.The authority said its Emergency Response Team was conducting investigations into the incident.Anyone with information is asked to contact the authority at 996 or the police at 999.The authority reminds that child protection is everybody’s business, and persons who feel unable to safely care for a child should contact the authority to discuss options for the care of the child.