KUCHING: The Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development welcomes more private hospitals and non-governmental organisations (NGO) to set up baby hatches in the state.
Its minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said providing facilities such as baby hatch could prevent newborn babies from being dumped in an unsafe environment.
“KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital is able to provide their expertise in setting up the baby hatch in terms of the technical aspect and costing,” she said in a press conference after chairing a One Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee (OSTPC) meeting via Zoom application today.
She mentioned that KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital has the experience as the first baby hatch facility in Sarawak was provided by them in 2017 under their corporate social responsibility (CSR).
“Since the establishment of the baby hatch, five babies were saved and have been sent to the Social Welfare Department Sarawak, unfortunately one baby died,” she said.
She said the KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital’s baby hatch facility was temporarily suspended as the hospital had just moved to a new location and in the midst of identifying a suitable location to set up a baby hatch taking into consideration the technical, safety and privacy aspects,” she said.
Fatimah, who is also OSTPC Sarawak chairperson, said that for those that need funding to set up a baby hatch, the Sarawak Federation of Chinese Associations (SFCA) would assist in looking for sponsors.
“In our discussion, SFCA president Datuk Richard Wee has mentioned that the association is able to help to look for sponsors to donate funds in setting up the baby hatch,” she said.
