BY GABRIEL LIHAN AND IDA NADHIRAH SANI
KUCHING: The Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) baby hatch welcomed its first infant, a baby girl on Sunday at 5.50 am.
The Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Minister, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, assured that the baby hatch offers a secure and confidential environment for mothers or next of kin.
Fatimah said the baby was taken to Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) for health monitoring and necessary medical examinations.
“The baby has been sent to SGH for further examination before issue a temporary court order for her placement in a children’s home,” she told a press conference at the BMC today (March 25).
She urged the infant’s mother to reclaim her child within a month if she reconsiders her decision.
“There is a one-month window for the biological parents to come forward if she decides to change her mind and wants to take the child back. This is to give an opportunity for the mother to come forward,” she said.
Should the mother not come forward within the stipulated time, the baby will enter a guardianship process, preparing her for adoption.
“Guardianship will allow the baby to be under care for two years, during which a supervising officer will monitor to ensure the guardian is fit to adopt,” she added.
Meanwhile, Fatimah thanked the BMC for their initiative in establishing the baby hatch as part of their corporate social responsibility, highlighting it as a ‘safe’ and ‘anonymous’ place for mothers in distress. It has been in operations since Oct 4 last year.
She encouraged women, including teenagers and adults, who have given birth and seek a secure environment to consider the baby hatch at BMC.
“Because of the standard operating procedure of the baby hatch, the medical department will attend to the baby immediately,” she assured.
So far, Sarawak has recorded three cases of baby dumping this year, not including the infant placed in BMC’s baby hatch. Biological mothers or next of kin looking to come forward for the baby’s registration process can contact the Minister at 013-806 3635.
