Fatimah (fifth right) receives a baby hatch proposal from Hafiz at the meeting.
KUCHING: Kuching Specialist Hospital (KPJ) is the first hospital in the state to provide a baby hatch, which will be launched on Jan 20 next year.
The baby hatch, a part of KPJ corporate social responsibilities, will provide a safe place for parents to place their babies, with assured privacy and their identities not known even to the hospital staff.
According to Minister of Welfare, Family and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, a decision had been made to provide such facility after much discussion between her ministry, One Stop Teenage Pregnancy Committee (OSTPC) and KPJ.
“This is part of KPJ moves to reduce baby dumping and also to provide a save place for the babies rather than being dumped. The idea is to provide a safe space for them.
“It prevents further damage. This is however not a move to support such act, but to contain the problem rather then letting it get worse,” Fatimah told reporters after chairing the meeting here yesterday.
She added that KPJ already had nine baby hatches throughout the country.
“Once a baby is placed at the hatch, the placer will not be able to retrieve the baby. The baby will be cared for by a welfare officer.
“The baby will be brought for adoption process and the police will be informed on the matter also,” she said.
On a related subject, Fatimah said Kuching had the highest number of baby dumping cases at 10 since 2010, followed by Sibu (seven) and Miri (six).
She appealed to teenagers, especially those pregnant out of wedlock, to inform OSTPC which would assist them for matters such as getting adoptive parents.
KPJ chief executive officer Mohamad Hafiz Zaini was present at the meeting.