KUCHING: The Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) here will set up a baby hatch to help curb baby dumping, Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said.
This will be the second such facility in Sarawak following a similar hatch launched by the KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital in 2017. But the KPJ hatch is temporarily unavailable as the hospital is still looking for a suitable location in terms of technical, safety, and privacy aspects since the hospital’s relocation.
Fatimah said BMC’s plan is important to the One Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee (OSTPC) because it will help reduce teenage pregnancies and baby dumping.
“Previously, there was a baby hatch by KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital. But ever since their relocation, they are still in the process of looking for a suitable location for the baby hatch.
“Thank God, now we have another entity that will establish such facility.
“I believe that it is currently in the final stages and it must be in a place not too far from town so that it is accessible,” she told reporters after chairing the OSTPC meeting at Wisma Bapa Malaysia today.
Fatimah stressed that with the existence of the facility, teenage and unwed mothers can place their babies there with assurance that the new-borns will be safe and their identities will be kept. confidential.
“This place will provide the necessary services for babies so that they are always safe. It is not to encourage such behaviour, but it is an effort to prevent baby dumping.
“We do not want such cases to increase but if it happens, let the child be safe at that place,” she said.
On the topic of baby dumping, she said the state recorded 50 cases since 2016. There were six cases last year, a decrease of four cases, compared to 10 in 2021.
She said efforts are being made to ensure awareness about teenage pregnancy can be intensified through certain programmes.
Fatimah shared her ministry plans to implement a total of 49 series of programmes and social interventions related to OSTPC through the Social Development Council.
Twelve series of Sexual Education Awareness and Advocacy (KAPS) programme will be implemented in selected national secondary schools throughout Sarawak.
Other than that, 24 series of ‘Randau Pembangunan Social’ (RPS) programme, which include the issue of pregnant teenagers, will be held for communities in rural areas.
“In the meantime, the ‘Wacana Minda’ programme will be held to share the findings of the study on pregnant teenagers in Sarawak with related strategic partners.
“The ministry will also hold 12 series of engagements together with OSTPC members to resolve issues of pregnant teenagers in line with the Management Guide for Pregnant Teenagers in Sarawak,” she said.
