Borneo Medical Centre takes stand against baby dumping, reinforces safe haven for infants

KUCHING: The Borneo Medical Centre (BMC) here is playing its role to curb the increased number of new-born babies being abandoned by their young mothers; it has established a baby hatch initiative.

Launched in October, the baby hatch, located on the ground floor of the Emergency Department, serves as a safe, confidential, and legal option for parents grappling with the challenges of caring for their new-borns.

“The medical centre firmly opposes the act of baby dumping, believing that every child deserves a safe and loving home.

“They are committed to providing support for parents facing difficult circumstances.

“It (baby hatch) provides a secure and anonymous way to ensure the well-being of infants, allowing them to receive proper care and medical attention,” BMC said in a statement.

Recent arrests related to new-born abandonment underscored the gravity of the issue, with a local woman in her early twenties, a 23-year-old foreign woman, and a teenage girl apprehended in Bandar Baru Semariang.

The incidents highlight the need for heightened community awareness and responsible actions.

In August, a local woman in her early twenties was apprehended on suspicion of abandoning her new-born, discovered near a dump site in Moyan Square, Batu Kawa.

The unmarried suspect faces investigation under Section 317 of the Penal Code for concealing the birth and abandonment of a child under the age of 12.

Early November saw the arrest of a 23-year-old foreign woman in connection with the discovery of a lifeless new-born baby girl in the dumpster area in MJC Batu.

The case, investigated under Section 318 of the Penal Code for concealing birth by secretly disposing of the body, adds urgency to addressing the issue of baby dumping.

The end of November brought another alarming incident as a teenage girl was arrested in connection with a new-born baby dumping incident in Bandar Baru Semariang. The case further stresses the critical need for community engagement and awareness.

BMC urged the public to disseminate information about the baby hatch within their communities, hoping to raise awareness and prevent further incidents of baby abandonment.