Sabah plans to provide 'baby hatch' service soon
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah plans to provide a service known as a 'baby hatch' in an effort to reduce baby-dumping incidents in the state.
Sabah Women and Children's Hospital Head of Obstetric and Gynaecology Department, Dr Soon Ruey said the service would initially be available at the Women and Children's Hospital as well as Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 before expanding the service to other districts in the state.
"Although the occurrence of baby-dumping incidents in Sabah is not high, we feel this service is important if we can save at least one or two lives.
"We don't expect to receive a baby immediately after the service is made available. But it will be there in case a mother doesn't want to keep her baby rather than abandoning it somewhere else," he told reporters after the launch of a women's awareness campaign organised by Sabah Wanita MCA, here on Friday.
The campaign was launched by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.
According to Soon Ruey, the service is planned to be available at the end of this year and parents who wish to leave their baby at the baby hatch can do so anonymously by placing the baby in a small slot containing an incubator and pressing a button which would immediately alert hospital staff.
He said the hospital would care for the baby's health and refer it to the Welfare Department for adoption.
Meanwhile, Rosnah announced that the Health Ministry has chosen Sabah to host a health awareness campaign in conjunction with the 'Janji Ditepati' programme.
She said the week-long campaign is scheduled to be held in September to provide awareness on healthy lifestyle practices.
The venue of the campaign is yet to be determined by the state government, she said. - Bernama
credits to:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/21/nation/20120721135638&sec=nation
Sabah Women and Children's Hospital Head of Obstetric and Gynaecology Department, Dr Soon Ruey said the service would initially be available at the Women and Children's Hospital as well as Queen Elizabeth Hospital 1 before expanding the service to other districts in the state.
"Although the occurrence of baby-dumping incidents in Sabah is not high, we feel this service is important if we can save at least one or two lives.
"We don't expect to receive a baby immediately after the service is made available. But it will be there in case a mother doesn't want to keep her baby rather than abandoning it somewhere else," he told reporters after the launch of a women's awareness campaign organised by Sabah Wanita MCA, here on Friday.
The campaign was launched by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin.
According to Soon Ruey, the service is planned to be available at the end of this year and parents who wish to leave their baby at the baby hatch can do so anonymously by placing the baby in a small slot containing an incubator and pressing a button which would immediately alert hospital staff.
He said the hospital would care for the baby's health and refer it to the Welfare Department for adoption.
Meanwhile, Rosnah announced that the Health Ministry has chosen Sabah to host a health awareness campaign in conjunction with the 'Janji Ditepati' programme.
She said the week-long campaign is scheduled to be held in September to provide awareness on healthy lifestyle practices.
The venue of the campaign is yet to be determined by the state government, she said. - Bernama
credits to:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/21/nation/20120721135638&sec=nation
Call to probe baby-in-bag case
Saturday July 7, 2012
- Saturday July 7, 2012
KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu Government has ordered an investigation into the “baby-in-schoolbag” incident, which has also triggered calls for a baby hatch to be set up to save abandoned newborns.
State Education and Higher Education Committee chairman Razif Abdul Rahman wants the state education department to thoroughly investigate how a 16-year-old schoolgirl here was able to keep her pregnancy a secret and then gave birth in a hostel without anyone noticing.
“If the girl had been detected earlier, there might have been a chance of saving the baby,” he said when interviewed by The Star yesterday.
The girl had reportedly given birth to the baby at her school hostel at about 1am on Tuesday. She stuffed the baby in a bag and handed it to a classmate who unknowingly carried the dead infant for 17 hours.
Doctors found out about the birth after the young mother sought medical treatment at the Sultanah NurZahirah Hospital for abdominal pains.
Razif agreed that having a baby hatch could help to save abandoned babies
“The move must not be misconstrued as encouraging sexual relations or having babies out of wedlock but as a move to save babies,” he said.
State welfare department director Zuhaimi Omar said it was prepared to work with NGOs to set up a baby hatch.
“The state does not have a baby hatch yet but it is high time we do,” he said.
Terengganu MCA Wanita chief See Meng Geok welcomed the setting up of a baby hatch, saying it could save countless little lives.
See also called for more efforts to educate and counsel young girls, especially those who are sexually active.
Meanwhile, state police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Jamshah Mustafa said police were tracking down a man, believed to be in his 20s, suspected of making the girl pregnant.
In MALACCA, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said school authorities should monitor schoolgirls of any unusual physical changes, including signs of pregnancy.
“Schools have the responsibility to monitor if any of their female students suddenly gain weight or show signs of being pregnant,” he told reporters after opening the newly relocated SJK (C) Pay Fong 1 at Taman Krubong Jaya yesterday.
“This is an upsetting case. We want to know what happened to the schoolgirl in the past several months,'' he said, adding that a complete report was expected by next week.
State Education and Higher Education Committee chairman Razif Abdul Rahman wants the state education department to thoroughly investigate how a 16-year-old schoolgirl here was able to keep her pregnancy a secret and then gave birth in a hostel without anyone noticing.
“If the girl had been detected earlier, there might have been a chance of saving the baby,” he said when interviewed by The Star yesterday.
The girl had reportedly given birth to the baby at her school hostel at about 1am on Tuesday. She stuffed the baby in a bag and handed it to a classmate who unknowingly carried the dead infant for 17 hours.
Doctors found out about the birth after the young mother sought medical treatment at the Sultanah NurZahirah Hospital for abdominal pains.
Razif agreed that having a baby hatch could help to save abandoned babies
“The move must not be misconstrued as encouraging sexual relations or having babies out of wedlock but as a move to save babies,” he said.
State welfare department director Zuhaimi Omar said it was prepared to work with NGOs to set up a baby hatch.
“The state does not have a baby hatch yet but it is high time we do,” he said.
Terengganu MCA Wanita chief See Meng Geok welcomed the setting up of a baby hatch, saying it could save countless little lives.
See also called for more efforts to educate and counsel young girls, especially those who are sexually active.
Meanwhile, state police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Jamshah Mustafa said police were tracking down a man, believed to be in his 20s, suspected of making the girl pregnant.
In MALACCA, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said school authorities should monitor schoolgirls of any unusual physical changes, including signs of pregnancy.
“Schools have the responsibility to monitor if any of their female students suddenly gain weight or show signs of being pregnant,” he told reporters after opening the newly relocated SJK (C) Pay Fong 1 at Taman Krubong Jaya yesterday.
“This is an upsetting case. We want to know what happened to the schoolgirl in the past several months,'' he said, adding that a complete report was expected by next week.
Baby-dumping cases escalate
Friday July 6, 2012 By LIM WEY WEN
PETALING JAYA: There has been a spike in the number of baby-dumping incidences since 2010.
After dropping from 102 cases in 2008 to 79 in 2009, the figure increased to 91 and 98 in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
So far this year, 31 cases were reported, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry deputy secretary-general Harjeet Singh said.
He said the increasing numbers could be due to more reports being made and society becoming aware of the scourge.
He said feedback from counselling sessions and case studies at several shelter homes for those aged under 18 listed peer pressure and lack of knowledge about reproductive health as the two most important factors that led to unwanted pregnancies.
Delivering the message: Students looking at posters of the ‘Say No to Baby Dumping’ seminar in Sunway.
“The desire to fit in influenced many teenagers into adopting the lifestyle of their peers,” he said after launching a “Say No to Baby Dumping” seminar here.
Harjeet said teenagers mixed freely with little parental supervision these days.
“Sometimes, the in-thing among them is to go to parties or have intimate relationships with their partners,” he said, adding that many of the young were not educated on how to avoid getting into such situations.
Syarhah Mohamed Tahir, a project administrator at OrphanCARE, said some underage teens were coaxed into having intimate relationships while others believed that their partners were truly in love with them.
OrphanCARE is an NGO that was started in 2008 to help expedite the adoption process for abandoned babies and children in orphanages. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Alvin Ng Lai Oon said it was more important for teenagers to be taught skills to deal with unwanted pregnancies.
“If it happens, they should be taught how to manage it. An unwanted pregnancy is not the end of the world,” he said.
credits to:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F7%2F6%2Fnation%2F11612591&sec=nation
After dropping from 102 cases in 2008 to 79 in 2009, the figure increased to 91 and 98 in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
So far this year, 31 cases were reported, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry deputy secretary-general Harjeet Singh said.
He said the increasing numbers could be due to more reports being made and society becoming aware of the scourge.
He said feedback from counselling sessions and case studies at several shelter homes for those aged under 18 listed peer pressure and lack of knowledge about reproductive health as the two most important factors that led to unwanted pregnancies.
Delivering the message: Students looking at posters of the ‘Say No to Baby Dumping’ seminar in Sunway.
“The desire to fit in influenced many teenagers into adopting the lifestyle of their peers,” he said after launching a “Say No to Baby Dumping” seminar here.
Harjeet said teenagers mixed freely with little parental supervision these days.
“Sometimes, the in-thing among them is to go to parties or have intimate relationships with their partners,” he said, adding that many of the young were not educated on how to avoid getting into such situations.
Syarhah Mohamed Tahir, a project administrator at OrphanCARE, said some underage teens were coaxed into having intimate relationships while others believed that their partners were truly in love with them.
OrphanCARE is an NGO that was started in 2008 to help expedite the adoption process for abandoned babies and children in orphanages. Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Alvin Ng Lai Oon said it was more important for teenagers to be taught skills to deal with unwanted pregnancies.
“If it happens, they should be taught how to manage it. An unwanted pregnancy is not the end of the world,” he said.
credits to:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F7%2F6%2Fnation%2F11612591&sec=nation
NEW STRATEGY: MINISTRY TO SET UP BABY HATCH CENTERS AT ALL GOVERNMRNT HOSPITALS
5 JUL 2012, 11:48PM BY ABDUL GHONI AHMAD
In a bid to rescue unwanted newborns, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry plans to set up baby hatch centers at all government hospitals, nationwide.
Its Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic), Harjeet Singh said, the move is part of its effort and commitment to reduce the number of baby dumping cases in the country, especially those born out of wedlock.
He added, although the initiative was still in its planning stage, the ministry has already taken initial steps, which would be carried out in October, to execute the proposal.
"Our plan is to work together with the Health Ministry. So, we will conduct a workshop to prepare the Standard Operative Procedure or SOP."
"This is the first stage. We have already started discussions with the Health Ministry. Following the workshop and after we have a SOP, we will then inform the media," said Harjeet.
Harjeet added that the ministry wishes that the baby hatch centers would provide a safe environment for babies whose mothers were unable or unwilling to care of them.
To date, there are nine baby hatch centers, which are managed by private hospitals and NGOs, in the country.
According to police statistics, there are a total of 627 cases of baby dumping reported since 1995 until June this year.
credits to: http://www.ntv7.com.my/7edition/local-en/NEW_STRATEGY_MINISTRY_TO_SET_UP_BABY_HATCH_CENTERS_AT_ALL_GOVERNMRNT_HOSPITALS.html
Its Deputy Secretary-General (Strategic), Harjeet Singh said, the move is part of its effort and commitment to reduce the number of baby dumping cases in the country, especially those born out of wedlock.
He added, although the initiative was still in its planning stage, the ministry has already taken initial steps, which would be carried out in October, to execute the proposal.
"Our plan is to work together with the Health Ministry. So, we will conduct a workshop to prepare the Standard Operative Procedure or SOP."
"This is the first stage. We have already started discussions with the Health Ministry. Following the workshop and after we have a SOP, we will then inform the media," said Harjeet.
Harjeet added that the ministry wishes that the baby hatch centers would provide a safe environment for babies whose mothers were unable or unwilling to care of them.
To date, there are nine baby hatch centers, which are managed by private hospitals and NGOs, in the country.
According to police statistics, there are a total of 627 cases of baby dumping reported since 1995 until June this year.
credits to: http://www.ntv7.com.my/7edition/local-en/NEW_STRATEGY_MINISTRY_TO_SET_UP_BABY_HATCH_CENTERS_AT_ALL_GOVERNMRNT_HOSPITALS.html
Criminalise baby dumping as an act of murder
Sunday, March 6, 2011
“The Cabinet has decided that the Home Ministry through the police, investigate these cases as murder when a baby dies.”
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, on her ministry’s proposal to the cabinet. She said the cabinet agreed that drastic steps had to be taken to stop baby dumping.
Police will be asked to investigate, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, abandoned babies which have died. Under Section 302, the punishment for murder is death. Currently, baby dumping is investigated under other sections or under the Child Act for abandonment, concealment of birth by secret disposal of body, and infanticide, which stipulate jail terms and fines upon conviction.
Reactions to the cabinet decision have been negative, with some saying that capital punishment would not be a deterrent, and that sex education, counselling and support would be more effective. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said not all cases would be classified as murder, depending on police investigations. (Source: Murder charge for baby dumpers, The Star, 13 Aug 2010)
“Although it would take a long time and a lot of money to set up, a DNA bank remains the best solution to the baby-dumping menace.”
Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, suggesting the usefulness of a DNA database to trace the parents of abandoned babies. He said many baby-dumping cases and other crimes remained unresolved because of a lack of information. (Source: CPO: DNA bank the answer to baby dumping, The Star, 22 Aug 2010)
Why not stop the stigma — provide baby care, sex education and safe haven laws — instead?
“Criminalising abandonment encourages someone, already in a terrible situation, to make a worse decision to hide a baby.
“The classical fiqh does not try to legislate against promiscuity post facto, knowing that any such activity would harm the baby. In order to save the baby’s life, there can be no criminalisation of abandonment.
“There must be a safe and anonymous way a parent can hand over a baby to the care of someone else.”
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia principal research fellow Dr Eric Winkel, on the classical position in Islamic jurisprudence or fiqh, which emphasises saving a baby’s life. Winkel argued that a child was at greater risk if baby dumping was criminalised.
He added that the desire to punish promiscuity must be a separate matter from ensuring the baby’s safety. His article also highlighted a few “baby hatch” programmes which have saved thousands of lives in various countries, including conservative societies. Youths should also be taught to “develop their own filters” to make good decisions and navigate the modern world with all its sexually charged messages, Winkel said. (Source: Focus on saving the life of the foundling, New Straits Times, 18 Aug 2010)
“Government can consider enacting a law to allow a parent to confidentially surrender a baby to any hospital emergency room or any designated place. The parent should also not be arrested or prosecuted.”
Wanita Gerakan deputy chief Ng Siew Lai, urging the cabinet to consider ways to help unmarried mothers instead of punishing them. Ng noted that the US had such laws in response to the problem of unwanted pregnancies.
She also said the women’s wing disagreed with the cabinet’s decision that baby-dumping cases be investigated as murder. Instead, counselling, rehabilitation, and sex education were better solutions. (Source: Baby Dumping: Help and Not Punish the Mothers, Wanita Gerakan press statement, 19 Aug 2010)
Posted by MOHD BUDIMAN MURI, JAMILAH ZULKAFLI, NUR WAHIDA MAT SANI at 1:43 PM No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
Stop couples from riding the same vehicle together
“… we want to prevent [incidences]. It’s better [to prevent such incidences] before such things as baby dumping occur.”
“… it’s not that they are not allowed completely to be on motorcycles together. If there are things to attend to, then there’s nothing wrong.”
“If it’s just for dinner, then there’s no problem. But if dinner’s over and they’re still together alone in a car, then that is not right.”
Mazlan Mohamad, director of the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Teachers’ Training Institute in Kuantan, Pahang, on a circular that prohibits trainee teachers of the opposite sex from riding together on motorbikes or in cars on or outside campus. He did not consider the measure extreme as students had not complained.
He also said teacher trainees frequently left the campus in pairs, and that this might affect the sensitivities of residents in the surrounding community who had a different level of “tolerance” for such things.
Trainees caught would not be punished, however, but given counseling, Mazlan added. (Source: College bars couples from riding motorbikes, cars, Malaysiakini, 17 Aug 2010)
Stop New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day celebrations
“Kita lihat banyak kes kelahiran berlaku pada bulan Ogos dan September, ini menunjukkan hubungan tersebut dilakukan pada sambutan Tahun Baru sebab itu kita lihat banyak kes pembuangan bayi berlaku dalam dua bulan ini.
“Dalam Islam sambutan Hari Kekasih tidak digalakkan tapi kalau nak buat kenduri itu tidak mengapa tetapi tidak hubungan terlarang.
“Jadi ini yang menjadi masalah apabila media seolah-olah menggalakkan sambutan Hari Kekasih dalam akhbar-akhbar tempatan.”
PAS Youth deputy chief Azman Shapawi, on New Year’s and Valentine’s Day celebrations as possible causes of baby dumping because these events allowed free mixing between the sexes. He said the topic would be discussed at a roundtable on solutions to illicit sex, rape and abandoned babies, which PAS Youth was organising on 22 Aug 2010. (Source: PAS dakwa sambutan Hari Kekasih, Tahun Baru antara punca buang bayi, The Malaysian Insider, 18 Aug 2010).
Credits to: http://kamismarties.blogspot.com/
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, on her ministry’s proposal to the cabinet. She said the cabinet agreed that drastic steps had to be taken to stop baby dumping.
Police will be asked to investigate, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, abandoned babies which have died. Under Section 302, the punishment for murder is death. Currently, baby dumping is investigated under other sections or under the Child Act for abandonment, concealment of birth by secret disposal of body, and infanticide, which stipulate jail terms and fines upon conviction.
Reactions to the cabinet decision have been negative, with some saying that capital punishment would not be a deterrent, and that sex education, counselling and support would be more effective. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said not all cases would be classified as murder, depending on police investigations. (Source: Murder charge for baby dumpers, The Star, 13 Aug 2010)
“Although it would take a long time and a lot of money to set up, a DNA bank remains the best solution to the baby-dumping menace.”
Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar, suggesting the usefulness of a DNA database to trace the parents of abandoned babies. He said many baby-dumping cases and other crimes remained unresolved because of a lack of information. (Source: CPO: DNA bank the answer to baby dumping, The Star, 22 Aug 2010)
Why not stop the stigma — provide baby care, sex education and safe haven laws — instead?
“Criminalising abandonment encourages someone, already in a terrible situation, to make a worse decision to hide a baby.
“The classical fiqh does not try to legislate against promiscuity post facto, knowing that any such activity would harm the baby. In order to save the baby’s life, there can be no criminalisation of abandonment.
“There must be a safe and anonymous way a parent can hand over a baby to the care of someone else.”
International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies (IAIS) Malaysia principal research fellow Dr Eric Winkel, on the classical position in Islamic jurisprudence or fiqh, which emphasises saving a baby’s life. Winkel argued that a child was at greater risk if baby dumping was criminalised.
He added that the desire to punish promiscuity must be a separate matter from ensuring the baby’s safety. His article also highlighted a few “baby hatch” programmes which have saved thousands of lives in various countries, including conservative societies. Youths should also be taught to “develop their own filters” to make good decisions and navigate the modern world with all its sexually charged messages, Winkel said. (Source: Focus on saving the life of the foundling, New Straits Times, 18 Aug 2010)
“Government can consider enacting a law to allow a parent to confidentially surrender a baby to any hospital emergency room or any designated place. The parent should also not be arrested or prosecuted.”
Wanita Gerakan deputy chief Ng Siew Lai, urging the cabinet to consider ways to help unmarried mothers instead of punishing them. Ng noted that the US had such laws in response to the problem of unwanted pregnancies.
She also said the women’s wing disagreed with the cabinet’s decision that baby-dumping cases be investigated as murder. Instead, counselling, rehabilitation, and sex education were better solutions. (Source: Baby Dumping: Help and Not Punish the Mothers, Wanita Gerakan press statement, 19 Aug 2010)
Posted by MOHD BUDIMAN MURI, JAMILAH ZULKAFLI, NUR WAHIDA MAT SANI at 1:43 PM No comments: Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
Stop couples from riding the same vehicle together
“… we want to prevent [incidences]. It’s better [to prevent such incidences] before such things as baby dumping occur.”
“… it’s not that they are not allowed completely to be on motorcycles together. If there are things to attend to, then there’s nothing wrong.”
“If it’s just for dinner, then there’s no problem. But if dinner’s over and they’re still together alone in a car, then that is not right.”
Mazlan Mohamad, director of the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Teachers’ Training Institute in Kuantan, Pahang, on a circular that prohibits trainee teachers of the opposite sex from riding together on motorbikes or in cars on or outside campus. He did not consider the measure extreme as students had not complained.
He also said teacher trainees frequently left the campus in pairs, and that this might affect the sensitivities of residents in the surrounding community who had a different level of “tolerance” for such things.
Trainees caught would not be punished, however, but given counseling, Mazlan added. (Source: College bars couples from riding motorbikes, cars, Malaysiakini, 17 Aug 2010)
Stop New Year’s Day and Valentine’s Day celebrations
“Kita lihat banyak kes kelahiran berlaku pada bulan Ogos dan September, ini menunjukkan hubungan tersebut dilakukan pada sambutan Tahun Baru sebab itu kita lihat banyak kes pembuangan bayi berlaku dalam dua bulan ini.
“Dalam Islam sambutan Hari Kekasih tidak digalakkan tapi kalau nak buat kenduri itu tidak mengapa tetapi tidak hubungan terlarang.
“Jadi ini yang menjadi masalah apabila media seolah-olah menggalakkan sambutan Hari Kekasih dalam akhbar-akhbar tempatan.”
PAS Youth deputy chief Azman Shapawi, on New Year’s and Valentine’s Day celebrations as possible causes of baby dumping because these events allowed free mixing between the sexes. He said the topic would be discussed at a roundtable on solutions to illicit sex, rape and abandoned babies, which PAS Youth was organising on 22 Aug 2010. (Source: PAS dakwa sambutan Hari Kekasih, Tahun Baru antara punca buang bayi, The Malaysian Insider, 18 Aug 2010).
Credits to: http://kamismarties.blogspot.com/
The Right to Live
By Mariam Mokhtar | January 16, 2011
The alarming rate at which babies are abandoned is worrying. Many are found dead in rubbish bins or bitten to death by animals and insects whilst others are simply left on doorsteps or on the streets. The government, worried by this rising trend, is considering treating cases of abandoned babies as murder or attempted murder.
Shame and Despair
School children in Perak, just like the rest of Malaysia, are not taught any sex education, although this is currently being revisited and sex education will be taught to our children in the near future. Our young are told to abstain from sex before marriage and that having a child out of wedlock heaps shame onto the family. It is this attitude which many social workers believe has driven desperate women to abandon their babies.
Baby Hatch
Some observers blame the usual targets: internet pornography, bad parenting, and an over-exposure to a sexually liberal western culture. As the authorities seek ways to stem the rising number of abandoned babies, various non-governmental organizations and hospitals have tried to rescue these babies. One such method is by having a “baby hatch”, which is a place where mothers can safely and anonymously leave their unwanted child.
Perak’s First Hospital Hatch
Perak’s first baby hatch in a hospital is located at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital (ISH) at Jalan Raja Di-Hilir. It is the ISH consultants’ initiative led by its Medical Director, Dr. Fadli Cheah. At its launch, the chief executive officer of the hospital, Nasirruddin Harun, announced that the programme was part of its corporate social responsibility.
He said, “The baby hatch is aimed at saving the lives of innocent newborns who are not wanted by their parents”. The hospital, said Nasirruddin, collaborated with the state Welfare Department.
“With this service, we hope to reduce the number of abandoned babies in Perak.”
Then, assisted by a model, he explained the hatch’s procedure and said that the action of a baby being placed within the hatch triggered an alarm which would then alert the hospital personnel.
“Our personnel will examine the baby and if he’s found to be healthy, we will hand him over to the Welfare Department,” he said.
Identity Kept Secret
He guaranteed that the identity of the person pla-cing the baby in the hatch would remain a secret and reassured those who wanted to know what if the baby was found to be ill: “If the baby needs medical attention, our doctors will treat him first for free.”
Hospital medical director. Dr. Fadzli, defended the move in having the hatch, but admitted that it would not totally solve the problem of baby-dumping. “We need a holistic approach, including educating people on teenage pregnancy,” he said.
State-wide Education Campaign
Meanwhile, state senior executive councillor Dato’ Hamidah Osman confirmed that her administration would embark on a state-wide campaign this year to educate people on pregnancy and about the hatch. She said, “We will go to schools and factories to distribute pamphlets about the need to place unwanted babies in a safe place” and reassured people that the state was not encouraging premarital sex with the baby hatch programme.
ISH First Hatch Baby
Eight days after the launch, the ISH received its first abandoned baby, which was left at the hatch on a Monday at about 4.00 p.m. Dr. Fadzli, reported that the hatch’s first baby was a boy of around seven months old who weighed approximately 7.8 kg.
“The baby is active and well-nourished,” he said in a statement recently. “His head circumference is however, larger than normal and tense,” he added. Dr. Fadzli then stressed that the baby hatch was meant only for abandoned newborn babies.
”Every newborn baby has the right to live,” he added as his staff took charge of the 7-month old Malay baby boy who had hydrocephalus. The really heartbreaking thing was that the 7-month old baby was desperately looking around for his mother in the ward, perhaps ready to be breastfed.
But like the good doctor says, every baby, regardless of it being a newborn baby or not, has the right to live, even though he has been abandoned by his mother.
credits to: http://ipohecho.com.my/v2/2011/01/16/the-right-to-live/
Shame and Despair
School children in Perak, just like the rest of Malaysia, are not taught any sex education, although this is currently being revisited and sex education will be taught to our children in the near future. Our young are told to abstain from sex before marriage and that having a child out of wedlock heaps shame onto the family. It is this attitude which many social workers believe has driven desperate women to abandon their babies.
Baby Hatch
Some observers blame the usual targets: internet pornography, bad parenting, and an over-exposure to a sexually liberal western culture. As the authorities seek ways to stem the rising number of abandoned babies, various non-governmental organizations and hospitals have tried to rescue these babies. One such method is by having a “baby hatch”, which is a place where mothers can safely and anonymously leave their unwanted child.
Perak’s First Hospital Hatch
Perak’s first baby hatch in a hospital is located at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital (ISH) at Jalan Raja Di-Hilir. It is the ISH consultants’ initiative led by its Medical Director, Dr. Fadli Cheah. At its launch, the chief executive officer of the hospital, Nasirruddin Harun, announced that the programme was part of its corporate social responsibility.
He said, “The baby hatch is aimed at saving the lives of innocent newborns who are not wanted by their parents”. The hospital, said Nasirruddin, collaborated with the state Welfare Department.
“With this service, we hope to reduce the number of abandoned babies in Perak.”
Then, assisted by a model, he explained the hatch’s procedure and said that the action of a baby being placed within the hatch triggered an alarm which would then alert the hospital personnel.
“Our personnel will examine the baby and if he’s found to be healthy, we will hand him over to the Welfare Department,” he said.
Identity Kept Secret
He guaranteed that the identity of the person pla-cing the baby in the hatch would remain a secret and reassured those who wanted to know what if the baby was found to be ill: “If the baby needs medical attention, our doctors will treat him first for free.”
Hospital medical director. Dr. Fadzli, defended the move in having the hatch, but admitted that it would not totally solve the problem of baby-dumping. “We need a holistic approach, including educating people on teenage pregnancy,” he said.
State-wide Education Campaign
Meanwhile, state senior executive councillor Dato’ Hamidah Osman confirmed that her administration would embark on a state-wide campaign this year to educate people on pregnancy and about the hatch. She said, “We will go to schools and factories to distribute pamphlets about the need to place unwanted babies in a safe place” and reassured people that the state was not encouraging premarital sex with the baby hatch programme.
ISH First Hatch Baby
Eight days after the launch, the ISH received its first abandoned baby, which was left at the hatch on a Monday at about 4.00 p.m. Dr. Fadzli, reported that the hatch’s first baby was a boy of around seven months old who weighed approximately 7.8 kg.
“The baby is active and well-nourished,” he said in a statement recently. “His head circumference is however, larger than normal and tense,” he added. Dr. Fadzli then stressed that the baby hatch was meant only for abandoned newborn babies.
”Every newborn baby has the right to live,” he added as his staff took charge of the 7-month old Malay baby boy who had hydrocephalus. The really heartbreaking thing was that the 7-month old baby was desperately looking around for his mother in the ward, perhaps ready to be breastfed.
But like the good doctor says, every baby, regardless of it being a newborn baby or not, has the right to live, even though he has been abandoned by his mother.
credits to: http://ipohecho.com.my/v2/2011/01/16/the-right-to-live/
OrphanCARE
OrphanCARE Baby HatchHRH Sultanah Pahang Sultanah Kalsom launched Malaysia’s first baby hatch and OrphanCARE’s operations centre on 29th May 2010. Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Jalil, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development and Dato’ Adnan Mohd Tahir, President of OrphanCARE were also present to officiate the launch.
It is heart-wrenching to read about and see pictures of abandoned babies, many of whom are left to die in places such as toilets and rubbish bins. In Malaysia, the incidence of abandoned babies is reported to be about 100 cases per year. However the actual number of babies that are abandoned is not really known and is estimated to be higher than that. Reported cases may be just the tip of the iceberg; with a large proportion of “hidden” cases whereby the babies are given up for adoption and managed in a private and illegal manner by those who offer refuge.
With the establishment of the Baby Hatch at OrphanCARE’s premises, it is hoped that there will be a reduction in the number of babies abandoned in unsafe places. Our aim is to discourage women, especially young unwed mothers who have nowhere to turn to for help, from abandoning their babies by providing the assurance that their babies would be placed with caring parents.
How the Baby Hatch worksAn online demonstration of the state-of-art baby hatch can be viewed from the following blog link: Baby Hatch demonstration
Goverment SupportOrphanCARE has the support of the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development and is in fact working closely with the Ministry. The Ministry is establishing a task force to review and update the Adoption Acts, Registration Act etc and has invited OrphanCARE to be part of the task force. OrphanCARE also intends to work with other Government departments, NGOs, the media and members of the public to help reduce the number of orphans living in orphanages and abandoned babies in Malaysia.
credits to: http://www.orphancare.org.my
It is heart-wrenching to read about and see pictures of abandoned babies, many of whom are left to die in places such as toilets and rubbish bins. In Malaysia, the incidence of abandoned babies is reported to be about 100 cases per year. However the actual number of babies that are abandoned is not really known and is estimated to be higher than that. Reported cases may be just the tip of the iceberg; with a large proportion of “hidden” cases whereby the babies are given up for adoption and managed in a private and illegal manner by those who offer refuge.
With the establishment of the Baby Hatch at OrphanCARE’s premises, it is hoped that there will be a reduction in the number of babies abandoned in unsafe places. Our aim is to discourage women, especially young unwed mothers who have nowhere to turn to for help, from abandoning their babies by providing the assurance that their babies would be placed with caring parents.
How the Baby Hatch worksAn online demonstration of the state-of-art baby hatch can be viewed from the following blog link: Baby Hatch demonstration
Goverment SupportOrphanCARE has the support of the Ministry of Women, Family & Community Development and is in fact working closely with the Ministry. The Ministry is establishing a task force to review and update the Adoption Acts, Registration Act etc and has invited OrphanCARE to be part of the task force. OrphanCARE also intends to work with other Government departments, NGOs, the media and members of the public to help reduce the number of orphans living in orphanages and abandoned babies in Malaysia.
credits to: http://www.orphancare.org.my
Tackling baby-dumping in Malaysia
517 baby dumping cases since 2005
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 – From 2005 to January this year, a total of 517 baby dumping cases were registered in the country, said Federal CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin.
He said 203 of the cases involved boys, 164 girls while the gender of the other 150 babies could not be ascertained.
“For cases in which the gender cannot be identified, post-mortems could not be carried out because the bodies were too badly decomposed,” he told reporters at the Federal police headquarters.
Of the total, 230 were found alive while 287 were dead.
Mohd Bakri said 37 suspects had been arrested in connection with the cases from 2005 until now, including four people in January alone.
Eighteen cases were brought to court resulting in nine convictions so far, he said.
According to Mohd Bakri, their studies revealed that the common locations for baby dumping were housing areas, by the road near mosques, rivers, bushes and public toilets.
He also said the police were given the responsibility of managing the NUR Alert (National Urgent Response Alert) system which aims to detect and inform the public about missing children aged below 12.
He said they were entrusted by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry with this issue as the department was investigating such cases, which also included evidence collection and information dissemination. – Bernama
credits to: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/517-baby-dumping-cases-since-2005/
He said 203 of the cases involved boys, 164 girls while the gender of the other 150 babies could not be ascertained.
“For cases in which the gender cannot be identified, post-mortems could not be carried out because the bodies were too badly decomposed,” he told reporters at the Federal police headquarters.
Of the total, 230 were found alive while 287 were dead.
Mohd Bakri said 37 suspects had been arrested in connection with the cases from 2005 until now, including four people in January alone.
Eighteen cases were brought to court resulting in nine convictions so far, he said.
According to Mohd Bakri, their studies revealed that the common locations for baby dumping were housing areas, by the road near mosques, rivers, bushes and public toilets.
He also said the police were given the responsibility of managing the NUR Alert (National Urgent Response Alert) system which aims to detect and inform the public about missing children aged below 12.
He said they were entrusted by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry with this issue as the department was investigating such cases, which also included evidence collection and information dissemination. – Bernama
credits to: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/517-baby-dumping-cases-since-2005/
Concern over baby dumping
Baby dumping in Malaysia: causes and solutions
14:54, September 14, 2010
Malaysia is grappling with the rising cases of abandoned babies, "forcing" the Malaysian police to investigate baby-dumping cases under the Malaysian Penal Code for murder or attempt murder.
The Malaysian public blame premarital sex on the over-exposure to sexually-liberal western culture, while the Malaysian government considers including sex education in school syllabus.
Experts, on the other hand, say the first step to curb the rising trend is to start educating the young about their choices.
Linda became pregnant when she was just about to graduate from high school.
Not knowing what to do, the 20-year-old was devastated as her parents wanted her pregnancy to remain a secret.
But later she found the Kewaja Rehabilitation centre, a women's shelter in Kuala Lumpur -- which has now become her temporary home until she is due in October this year.
Pre-marital sex and having a child out of wedlock is deemed deeply shameful in Malaysia -- a Muslim majority country.
They are not only regarded as a sin, but may also be a punishable crime.
Muslim couples found guilty of fornicating could be fined up to thousands of U.S. dollars, jailed or caned.
Linda was fortunate to have sought help from a shelter.
But in a society where abortion is prohibited, many girls who share her experience are left stranded and eventually choose to abandon their babies.
This year alone, the Malaysian police have discovered 65 abandoned infants, most of them dead by the time they were found.
They were left in rubbish bins, on doorsteps and on the streets, prompting the government to consider treating these cases as murder or attempted murder.
Dr. Meriam Omar Din, a psychology counsellor at the International Islam University in Kuala Lumpur believes that cultural stigma that emphasizes abstinence is the main reason why pregnant girls are so eager to hide their pregnancy.
"What they are doing is against the value of the family. It is like it is a mistake. They become desperate, perhaps they cannot see the right person who can help them find the solution," Meriam said in an interview with Xinhua.
"By the time they star thinking, the baby is out. That is the reason why they would rather take the risk then to be rejected by the family.
"In our religion, of course having sex (before marriage) is wrong, but throwing away a baby is worse. So I think throwing a baby is no longer caused by religious factor but cultural factor," Meriam added.
She said the society's tendency to blame teenage pregnancy on women rather than men -- could also be a contributing factor to the rising cases of abandoned babies.
"The woman has to make the decision alone, and they do not have anyone to turn to and the man by then is not there anymore. To them, it is their fault because they are pregnant. The man does not want to get married with them.
"If the embarrassment is one factor, if the man still stays and is willing to get married, I do not think they will throw the baby, " said Meriam.
Women's shelters like the Kewaja Rehabilitation Centre are havens for many desperate young girls who are pregnant, helping them recover psychologically and physically while equipping them with skills that could get them a job after delivering a child.
These shelters protect them momentarily from relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, religious bodies in Malaysia have also geared up to conduct frequent checks on dormitories and hotel rooms against illicit sexual activities.
And the Malaysian government is now contemplating on teaching sex education in school -- a much debated move for parents who fear it would promote sexual behaviors at a young age.
Malaysians are struggling to curb teenage pregnancies and stop more babies from being abandoned.
It is hard to find the perfect solution that everyone agrees on, but experts are now suggesting that it is about time that they stop telling young people what not to do, and instead educating them on how to make the right choices.
Source: Xinhua ( By Jia Ning Tan)
credits to: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7139796.html
The Malaysian public blame premarital sex on the over-exposure to sexually-liberal western culture, while the Malaysian government considers including sex education in school syllabus.
Experts, on the other hand, say the first step to curb the rising trend is to start educating the young about their choices.
Linda became pregnant when she was just about to graduate from high school.
Not knowing what to do, the 20-year-old was devastated as her parents wanted her pregnancy to remain a secret.
But later she found the Kewaja Rehabilitation centre, a women's shelter in Kuala Lumpur -- which has now become her temporary home until she is due in October this year.
Pre-marital sex and having a child out of wedlock is deemed deeply shameful in Malaysia -- a Muslim majority country.
They are not only regarded as a sin, but may also be a punishable crime.
Muslim couples found guilty of fornicating could be fined up to thousands of U.S. dollars, jailed or caned.
Linda was fortunate to have sought help from a shelter.
But in a society where abortion is prohibited, many girls who share her experience are left stranded and eventually choose to abandon their babies.
This year alone, the Malaysian police have discovered 65 abandoned infants, most of them dead by the time they were found.
They were left in rubbish bins, on doorsteps and on the streets, prompting the government to consider treating these cases as murder or attempted murder.
Dr. Meriam Omar Din, a psychology counsellor at the International Islam University in Kuala Lumpur believes that cultural stigma that emphasizes abstinence is the main reason why pregnant girls are so eager to hide their pregnancy.
"What they are doing is against the value of the family. It is like it is a mistake. They become desperate, perhaps they cannot see the right person who can help them find the solution," Meriam said in an interview with Xinhua.
"By the time they star thinking, the baby is out. That is the reason why they would rather take the risk then to be rejected by the family.
"In our religion, of course having sex (before marriage) is wrong, but throwing away a baby is worse. So I think throwing a baby is no longer caused by religious factor but cultural factor," Meriam added.
She said the society's tendency to blame teenage pregnancy on women rather than men -- could also be a contributing factor to the rising cases of abandoned babies.
"The woman has to make the decision alone, and they do not have anyone to turn to and the man by then is not there anymore. To them, it is their fault because they are pregnant. The man does not want to get married with them.
"If the embarrassment is one factor, if the man still stays and is willing to get married, I do not think they will throw the baby, " said Meriam.
Women's shelters like the Kewaja Rehabilitation Centre are havens for many desperate young girls who are pregnant, helping them recover psychologically and physically while equipping them with skills that could get them a job after delivering a child.
These shelters protect them momentarily from relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, religious bodies in Malaysia have also geared up to conduct frequent checks on dormitories and hotel rooms against illicit sexual activities.
And the Malaysian government is now contemplating on teaching sex education in school -- a much debated move for parents who fear it would promote sexual behaviors at a young age.
Malaysians are struggling to curb teenage pregnancies and stop more babies from being abandoned.
It is hard to find the perfect solution that everyone agrees on, but experts are now suggesting that it is about time that they stop telling young people what not to do, and instead educating them on how to make the right choices.
Source: Xinhua ( By Jia Ning Tan)
credits to: http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/7139796.html