Let’s have baby hatches in all hospitals and clinics

Let’s have baby hatches in all hospitals and clinics

A two-week-old baby boy was found abandoned under a tree behind an apartment block in SS16, Jalan Kemajuan, Subang Jaya, on Monday (Dec 19, 2016).

The baby was luckier than many others who were dumped in garbage dumps and exposed to great harm with some even dying from bites and injuries.

“It is so sad that this social problem continues to go unresolved. Blaming the baby’s parents or mother does not contribute to helping resolve baby dumping woes,” Gerakan Deputy Speaker Syed Abdul Razak Alsagoff said.

“This case has happened too close to Bukit Lanjan for comfort. And it is upsetting that the parents or the mother of the baby did not choose a more humane way of giving up their or her own flesh and blood.

“Whatever reasons the baby’s parents or mother have to abandon their or her own flesh and blood, they or she could have done it in a way to put the baby away in harms way.

“The baby could have been put up for adoption via the various authorities, like the Welfare Department, or placed in baby hatches,” he added.

“Perhaps, it is time for both the state and federal governments to treat this problem more seriously and with urgency. Unwanted pregnancies should be given immediate attention, not let the problem degenerate into baby dumping.

“Can the state and federal governments consider making it mandatory for all hospitals and clinics, including private clinics, to have baby hatches installed within their premise to help save unwanted babies?

“I see no reason why we cannot consider doing this as the problem has remained unresolved and babies continue to be placed in harms way,” he added.

Syed Razak, who is Gerakan’s nominee to contest N.37 Bukit Lanjan in the coming 14th General Election, said it was equally distressing and sad to read that even the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has claimed the baby hatch project in Malaysia was a failure.

However, the the OrphanCARE Foundation says it has rescued 216 babies since it began operations in May 2010 and even cared for women with unwanted pregnancies.

“The fact that 216 babies have been saved makes it a must for Malaysians and Malaysia to ensure the baby hatch project succeeds.

“The only reason why the baby hatch project has not seen much success, as Suhakam claims, is that there is not enough effort put up by the governments and Malaysians to educate and promote the life-saving project,” he added.

Syed Razak said: “It really does not cost much to the governments, hospitals and clinics (both private and public) to put up such a facility to save the lives of new born.

“When such facilities are found or seen almost everywhere, those who think of dumping their baby in forsaken places of dirt and harm will be persuaded to do it more humanely.

“We also need to aggressively hold as many public talks to educate communities and societies on why we must help save and give unwanted babies their right to survive.

“Educate and make all communities aware of the baby hatch facilities. Raising public awareness will help ensure unwanted babies are properly placed in safe facilities where they can be put up for adoption or given proper care and attention.

“Parents must also be more understanding. They should refrain from or stop blaming their daughters from unwanted pregnancies. Don’t add to their distress.

“Think it over how to love and raise the baby. If they feel there is no solution, then put the baby up for adoption. Not dumping them in harms way in unforsaken dumps,” he added.

Here are three news reports on baby dumping:

"Nation

Home > News > Nation

Monday, 19 December 2016 | MYT 9:59 PM

Healthy two-week-old boy abandoned in Subang Jaya

BY JASTIN AHMAD TARMIZI

PETALING JAYA: A boy of about two weeks old was found abandoned under a tree behind an apartment block at SS16, Jalan Kemajuan in Subang Jaya near here.

Subang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Mohammad Azlin Sadari said the baby was fully clothed and healthy when he was found at about noon Monday wrapped in cloth with the words “University Malaya Medical Centre” (UMMC).

He said the baby, weighing some 2.85kg, was found by a Uber driver who had dropped off a passenger in the apartment block.

“As the driver passed the area, he could hear the cries of the baby as his window was down,” he said. The driver then contacted police.

ACP Azlin said the baby was taken to UMMC and the cloth used to wrap the baby was from the medical centre.

“There is a possibility that the baby was delivered in UMMC and the hospital will check if they have records of the baby,” he said.

He added that a white plastic bag with diapers, baby wash, milk and a milk bottle were found together with the baby. There were no documents. - The Star Online

Baby hatch rescued 216 babies

Posted on 9 February 2016 - 11:02pm
Last updated on 10 February 2016 - 01:04pm

Nabilah Hamudin
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

A baby hatch in Petaling Jaya

PETALING JAYA: While the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) claims the baby hatch project was a failure, the OrphanCARE Foundation says it has rescued 216 babies since it began operations in May 2010 and even cared for women with unwanted pregnancies.

OrphanCARE Foundation Trustee-Head of Media, Publicity and Fundraising Nor'aini Hashim said of the saved babies, 134 were adopted by families and 82 were surrendered to their biological mothers after counselling sessions.

"Some mothers regret their deed of abandoning their newborns and later come and claim them," Nor'aini told聽theSun.

She said some mothers come after a few days to claim their children while others a little later.

It is learnt that some unwed mothers panic when they deliver not knowing what to do with their newborns and that's when they decide to abandon or leave them at the foundation.

Nor'aini said there is a need to create more awareness of the foundation so that unwed mothers can leave their newborn at the foundation rather than resorting to leaving them unattended or trying to kill them.

She said all that the mother needs do is leave their child in the baby hatch.

"We also provide shelter for pregnant mothers, but not too many, with caregivers caring for them," she said, adding that Suhakam is wrong in saying that the foundation is only a baby hatch and does not care about ladies with unwanted pregnancies.

"We provide shelter, protection and care for ladies with unwanted pregnancies, although we do not have the capacity for big numbers," she said.

Nor'aini said they have two counsellors to give support for unwed mothers and help them through their pregnancy.

"We urge those who decide not to have their children, to come forward and hand their documents to ease the adoption procedures," she said, adding that their assistance is needed to expedite adoption although the foundation will not force to those who want to remain anonymous.

She assured that those taking children for adoption are screened thoroughly including for criminal records, interviewed and all details documented in a 32-page questionaire before handing a child.

"They even have to attend a parenting course with us," said Nor'aini, adding in some cases the biological mothers decide as to which couple adopts their child.

For babies left in the hatch, she said, they will have no documentations, stateless and no citizenship.

"We normally lodge a police report and seek help from Social Welfare Department to get a citizenship status. It's a long process and that is why it is important for the mothers to come and see us," she added.

On an average, Noraini said, they receive two babies a month from mothers who are in their teens or early 20s.

The Foundation has set up baby hatches in Petaling Jaya, Johor Bahru and Sungai Petani. It also collaborates with KPJ Healthcare Berhad which has eight baby hatches.

As to Suhakam, Nor'aini said they have met with them to explain what they do, including talking about sex education in 20 colleges and schools.



According to police statistics, a total of 104 baby dumping cases were recorded in 2015 with only 43 babies found alive. - theSun Online


Baby hatch final option for illegitimate babies

BY BERNAMA - 14 MAY 2016 @ 6:44 PM

PETALING JAYA: Baby hatch is the final option for unwed mothers to leave their illegitimate children in, says Orphancare Foundation. However, the foundation which provides the baby hatch facility has advised unwed mothers wishing to place their babies under the care of the programme to first seek advice from the foundation. A member of the Orphancare Foundation’s board of trustees, Noraini Hashim said this way, the foundation would be able to identify the babies before handing them over to couples intending to adopt. “This foundation is very concerned over the baby’s life. So, it’s better if the unwed mother who wants to send the baby to the baby hatch, meets us first,” she told Bernama recently. Noraini said unidentified babies placed in the baby hatch will only make it difficult for the foundation to determine their status in terms of religion, race and nation. Since 2009, she said the foundation had rescued a total of 137 abandoned babies. Of this number, 22 babies were found in the baby hatch. The rescued babies were returned to their respective families following counselling. In other cases, the babies were handed over to foster families. However, Noraini said, only a small number of babies were placed in the baby hatch, indicating that some unwed mothers chose to abandon their babies rather than send them to the foundation or welfare homes. She said last year, a total of 15 babies and six others from the baby hatch were rescued by the foundation. This year, three babies and four others from the baby hatch were rescued. She explained that placing a baby in the hatch was not a crime and that the foundation was always ready to accept abandoned babies to provide protection. The baby hatch is a box equipped with air-conditioning, mattresses and pillows, lighting, closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, including sensors to detect the body weight and trigger the alarm to alert the centre’s guard that a baby had been placed in the box. Once the baby is placed in the box, it cannot be re-opened. This serves as a security measure to prevent irresponsible parties from taking the baby. Noraini said babies placed in the baby hatch would be handed over to couples who were registered for the adoption process carried out by the foundation based on the guidelines of the Social Welfare Department (JKM), with additional conditions from the foundation. “The conditions involve foster parents attending an eight-hour course in Orphancare, answering a questionnaire from the JKM and Orphancare and surprise visits by the foundation to their (foster parents’) house. “So far, a total of 759 couples have registered to adopt babies from the foundation,” she said, adding that 11 baby hatches had been set up nationwide, including three operated by the foundation, namely in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya; Bandar Baru Uda, Johor Baharu; and, Sungai Petani, Kedah. The others are operated by KPJ Healthcare Berhad (KPJ) at the Damansara Specialist Hospital; KPJ Ipoh, Perak; KPJ Johor; KPJ Tawakal, Kuala Lumpur; KPJ Seremban, Negeri Sembilan; KPJ Pulau Pinang; KPJ Perdana, Kelantan; and, KPJ Kuantan, Pahang. --BERNAMA 1661 reads In this file pic, Project Admin OrphanCARE, Syarhah Mohamed Tahir showed on how to put a baby inside the baby hatch at OphanCARE, Petaling Jaya. Baby hatch is the final option for unwed mothers to leave their illegitimate children in, says Orphancare Foundation. Pix by Nurul Syazana Rose Razman

 NST Online"

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