More safe places needed to curb baby dumping issue

KUCHING: Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah has highlighted the importance of having more safe places like the baby hatch for women to go, especially when they have the urge to baby dump.
 
The Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development stressed the significance of teenage mothers having a safe place that enables them to reach out and call out for help after delivering a baby.
 
“KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital was the one who introduced the first baby hatch in the state. However, when they moved to their new premises, the initiative was postponed.
 
“Now, the Borneo Medical Centre will have their own baby hatch, which will be completed soon,” she told reporters.
 
Fatimah added that by establishing more safe places, such as the baby hatch, and holding more awareness programmes, it could save the babies and the mothers’ lives.
 
“We want to save the life of the innocent baby, and we want to save the immature girl because she is too young to carry the responsibility as a mother.
 
“Through collaborative efforts with various agencies, we have seen the success of these initiatives such as the baby hatch and One Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee,” she said, responding to a question by a reporter regarding a baby dumping incident that happened yesterday at Moyan Square, Batu Kawa.
 
She added that the statistics on the number of cases of baby dumping have shown a slight decrease from 10 cases in 2021 to two cases as of yesterday (Aug 18).
 
Therefore, she emphasised that saving lives and creating awareness remain the main objectives.
 
Earlier, Fatimah officiated at the International Chinese Muslim Conference (ICMC) at the Waterfront Hotel.
 
Among those present were the Malaysia Chinese Muslim Association (MACMA) president Datuk Prof Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin, the programme director of ICMC 2023 Datin Norhana Ng, and KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital consultant neurosurgeon Datuk Dr Fadzli Cheah.